Tricalcium phosphate sheets with chitosan obtained via aqueous tape casting

Tricalcium phosphate (TCP) is a biomaterial produced in several biomedical applications, in addition to having biocompatibility and osteoconductive capacity. Biodegradable polymers of natural or synthetic origin such as chitosan and polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) have been used for tissue engineering applications because they have the properties of the native organic phase of bone tissue. Thus, the objective of this study was to obtain ceramic tapes based on TCP, chitosan, and PVA through the tape casting method. The viscosity data for all suspensions were ideal for the chosen processing. The thermogravimetric curves showed similar profiles, and it was possible to observe that a greater total mass loss occurred with the increase in the chitosan content. XRD reflections related to the β-TCP phase of the orthorhombic structure were found, showing no phase transformation. SEM analysis showed degrees of roughness on the film surfaces with little influence from the increase in chitosan content.

XRD and FTIR Analysis of Magnesium Substituted Tricalcium Calcium Phosphate Using a Wet Precipitation Method

The incorporation of magnesium (Mg) in tricalcium phosphate (TCP) was prepared through a precipitation method followed by calcination at 850 °C in air. Calcium hydroxide, (Ca(OH)2), phosphoric acid, (H3PO4), and magnesium chloride (MgCl2.6H2O) with a Ca/P ratio of 1.5, were mixed as the precursor materials. The concentration of added Mg was varied with respect to calcium (Ca) precursor molarity as such Mg/(Ca +Mg) molar ratio was 0.05, 0.10, and 0.15, while the (Ca+Mg)/P ratio was maintained at 1.50 throughout the experiment. The influence of Mg-doped TCP on phase composition, chemical structure, and a functional group at different weight percentages were accomplished through X-ray diffraction (XRD), inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectroscopy (ICP-OES) and Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR) analyses. Based in the results of this research, the presence of magnesium led to the formation of Mg-doped calcium-deficient apatite (MgCDA) at 80°C and Mg-doped β-TCP at 850°C; the incorporation of Mg into the TCP phase causing an expansion of the lattice and increase in the lattice parameter. This result could be considered rather unusual.

Precipitation Behavior of the Topologically Close-Packed Phase in the DD5 Superalloy during Long-Term Aging

The precipitation behaviors of the topologically close-packed (TCP) phases in the bicrystal DD5 superalloy have been investigated. The results showed that the [001] crystallographic orientations are consistent with that of adjacent grains; however, the direction of the needle-like TCP phases is not consistent with that of the γ phase channels. The angle between needle-like TCP phases and γ phase channels is 45°, but the angle between the needle-like TCP phases of the adjacent grains is equal to the misorientation of the adjacent grains. Furthermore, during long-term aging, the needle-like TCP phases gradually decompose and transform into globular and short rod-like phases. The TCP phases precipitate preferentially in the dendrite. It is difficult to precipitate at the interdendrite/grain boundary, which is caused by the segregation of the constituent elements of the TCP phase to the dendrite.

Effect of microwave conditions on sintering of hydroxyapatite ceramics

In this work, Hydroxyapatite (HAp) was sintered by microwave and compared with the sintered samples by conventional method. The power levels of microwave were 450, 600, 900 W and the sintering temperatures were in the range from 750 to 1000 ?C without isothermal holding. It was shown that the using of higher power level at the same heating temperature increases the density of sintered samples. Samples sintered in microwave at 1000 ?C by 900 W power reached a higher density of 95 % compared to the conventional process (85 %), however in the case of using 450 W power, the densification trend was almost similar to the conventional one. HAp to TCP phase transformation was not detected at 1000 ?C; however, the preferred growth of (211) planes corresponded to circular morphology was observed. Microstructural observations showed larger grains (500 nm) and porosities (300 nm) in the traditional sintered samples compared to the samples, which were sintered by microwave (200 nm and 100 nm, respectively).

Naturally Derived a-Tricalcium Phosphate Based Porous Composite Bead Production

In this study, a simple, innovative approach is applied to produce porous a-TCP-CeO2-Al2O3 composite beads via using bovine bone-derived hydroxyapatite, cerium oxide, and alumina ceramics. Bovine-bone derived hydroxyapatite was obtained via calcination of bones at 950°C for 3 hours. Hydroxyapatite is a thermally unstable biomaterial at high temperatures, and depending on its stoichiometry decomposes at 800-1200°C. Sodium alginate was successfully used as an in situ gelling templates for the production of the ceramic beads and starch, an environmentally friendly and economic pore-forming agent, is used to achieve interconnected, highly open porosity containing composite beads. Sintering of the ceramic−starch−alginate green composite beads at 1200°C for 1 hour resulted in the decomposition of the hydroxyapatite phase and formation of a-TCP. XRD analysis revealed that a-TCP-CeO2-Al2O3 composite beads were achieved. XRD analysis confirmed the formation of a-TCP phase in all composite compositions. SEM investigations of the produced composite beads revealed that bimodal pore size distribution, fine and coarse, was achieved.