Abstract

Four commercial hydroxyapatites (both natural and synthetic) were tested to assess transformations of the chemical and crystalline structure following variation of temperature from 20 to 1600°C. The thermal behaviour of hydroxyapatite is relevant for biomedical applications such as plasma spraying of metallic implants. Thermogravimetric analysis showed a weight loss from each hydroxyapatite specimen, due to a release of structural H 20 molecules; all the specimens up to 1300°C were made of crystalline hydroxyapatite, determined by X-ray diffraction; at 1470°C they were made of both hydroxyapatite and calcium phosphate, but at 1570°C of calcium phosphate exclusively. The diffractograms of the hydroxyapatite coatings showed the same peaks as the original powders, so at the chosen plasma-spray procedure level no new phases were formed. The peak height was nevertheless lower in the plasma-sprayed hydroxyapatites for all interplanar spacing values, which indicated a lower degree of crystallinity, associated with a random structure derived from an alteration to the original crystalline network.

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