Ag+ , Cu2+ and Zn2+ doped hydroxyapatite/tricalcium phosphate bioceramics: Influence of doping and sintering technique on mechanical properties

• Main Authors: Željko Radovanović, Đorđe Veljović, Lidija Radovanović, Ilmars Zalite, Eriks Palcevskis, Rada Petrović, Đorđe Janaćković
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: University of Novi Sad 2018-09-01
• Series: Processing and Application of Ceramics
• Subjects: doped apatite; conventional and microwave sintering; microstructure; mechanical properties
• Online Access: http://www.tf.uns.ac.rs/publikacije/PAC/pdf/PAC%2041%2009.pdf
• ISSN: 1820-6131; 2406-1034

Green hydroxyapatite ceramics were obtained by cold uniaxial and isostatic pressing of hydrothermally synthesized powders, pure hydroxyapatite and hydroxyapatite doped with Ag+, Cu2+ and Zn2+ ions. The ceramics were conventionally and microwave sintered and analyzed by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, field emission scanning electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction analysis, and energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy. The effect of doping on the mechanical properties of the obtained hydroxyapatite/tricalcium phosphate ceramics was examined by comparing their average grain size, porosity and values of the hardness and fracture toughness. The results showed that doping with Cu2+ ions caused the lowest porosity of the ceramics and the highest values of hardness and fracture toughness. The ceramics obtained from hydroxyapatite doped with Ag+ and Zn2+ ions exhibited worse mechanical properties due to the higher porosity even in the case of microwave sintering, which provide denser ceramics than conventional sintering.