The influence of yttrium doping on the microstructure and microchemistry of hot-pressed ␣-alumina was investigated using a combination of electron microscopy techniques. The implications of microstructure and microchemistry on the improved creep behavior of the doped material are discussed. The samples doped only with yttrium had a bimodal grain-size distribution that was strongly correlated to the frequency and distribution of Y 3 Al 5 O 12 (YAG) precipitates in the microstructure. Yttrium segregated to most of the grain boundaries, with a normal excess concentration of ⌫= 3.3 ± 0.9 atoms/nm 2 at random boundaries. Two types of twin boundaries (⌺3 and ⌺7) accommodated no yttrium. None of the boundaries or triple-point junctions contained a glassy grain-boundary phase. Strong interaction of the grain boundaries and dislocations with YAG precipitates indicated a pinning mechanism by the precipitates. Yttrium doping did not appear to favor formation of special boundaries in ␣-alumina.

We demonstrate the application of the combined experimental-computational approach for studying the anionic impurities in hydroxyapatite (HAp). Influence of the carbonation level (x) on the concentration of the NO3(2-) radicals in the HAp nanocrystals of Ca10-xNax(PO4)6-x(CO3)x(OH)2 with x in the range 0 < x < 2 and average sizes of 30 nm is investigated by different analytical methods including electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR). Stable NO3(2-) radicals are formed under X-ray irradiation of nano-HAp samples from NO3(-) ions incorporated in trace amounts during the wet synthesis process. Density functional theory (DFT) based calculations show energetic preference for the PO4 group substitution by NO3(-) ions. Comparison of the calculated and experimental spectroscopic parameters (g and hyperfine tensors) reveals that EPR detects the NO3(2-) radicals located in the positions of the PO4 group only. It is shown that with the increase in x, the carbonate ions substitute the NO3(2-)/NO3(-) ions. DFT calculations confirm that carbonate incorporation in HAp structure is energetically more favorable than the formation of the nitrate defect.

The interplay of oppositely charged substitutions in the structure of hydroxyapatite (HAp) nanopowders is investigated on the atomic level by pulsed electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) technique and ab initio density functional theory calculations. Benefits of EPR to determine Mn(2+) ions in nano-HAp samples are demonstrated. A simple approach based on the measurements of electron spin relaxation times allowed observing the strong influence of fast-relaxing Mn(2+) ions on the relaxation characteristics of the nitrate ions (NO3(-)/NO3(2-)) incorporated in trace amounts. Based on the results of ab initio calculations, we show the propensity of Mn(2+) and NO3(-)/NO3(2-) to associate within the HAp crystal lattice. This could have a direct impact on the functional properties of the material especially to resorption and ion exchange. Furthermore, such an effect can increase a propensity of undesired impurities to incorporate into the doped nanocrystals.

W-band pulsed EPR and ENDOR investigations of X-ray irradiated nanoparticles of synthetic hydroxyapatite Ca(9)Pb(PO(4))(6)(OH)(2) are performed. It is shown that in the investigated species lead ions probably replace the Ca(1) position in the hydroxyapatite structure.

Synthesized by the wet chemical precipitation technique hydroxyapatite powders (HAp) with the sizes of the crystallites of (20-10 50) nm and 1 m were analyzed by multi-frequency (9 and 95 GHz) electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) methods. It is shown that during the synthesis process nitrate anions from the reagents (by-products) could incorporate into the HAp structure. The relaxation times and EPR parameters of the axially symmetric NO 3 2paramagnetic centers detected after X-ray irradiation of the product at room temperature are measured with high accuracy. Assignments of the observed EPR spectra as compared with that given in literature are discussed. Analyses of electron-nuclear double resonance (ENDOR) data from 1 H and 31 P nuclei and ab-15 initio density functional theory (DFT) calculations allow suggesting that the paramagnetic centers and nitrate anions as the precursors of NO 3 2radicals preferably occupy PO 4 3site in the HAp structure. 65 110 Troullier-Martins pseudopotentials [27] with the plane-wave cutoff energy of 70 Ry.

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Present work is aimed at the fabrication of resorbable bioceramics based on calcium pyrophosphate (CPP) from the synthesized powders of amorphous hydrated calcium pyrophosphate (AHCPP). Amorphous hydratedcalcium pyrophosphate in the form of nanopowders was precipitated from Ca(NO3 )2 and (NH4 )4P2O7 solutions at room temperature in the presence of PO3– ions. Crystalline CPP powder was fabricated from AHCPP by its thermal decomposition at 600 °C and consisted of β- and α- phase. Small particles, with the size less than 200 nm, were formed promoting sintering of the ceramic material. The final sample, sintered at 900 °C, exhibits microstructure with submicron grains, apparent density of 87% of theoretical density (TD) and demonstrates tensile strength of 70 MPa

Incorporation of carbonate ions to the crystal structure of carbonated hydroxyapatite (CHAp) leads to the formation of point defects (vacancies) in Ca-and OH-sublattices as well as to microstrains revealed in CHAp nanocrystals. Various techniques, such as XRD, FTIR, TEM, FESEM/EDX, TG/DTA, AES (ICP), wet chemical analysis, Ca-ionometry, microvolumetric analysis of evolved CO 2 , BET adsorption, were applied to determine an efficiency of carbonate substitution, and to quantify the elemental composition, as well as to characterize the structure of the carbonated hydroxyapatite and the site(s) of carbonate substitution. It was shown that there is insignificant incorporation of Na into the crystal structure of HAp. Over the range of 0 -4 % wt. (x<0.25), the substitution of OH-by CO 3 2-takes place leading to A-Type of CHAp, further increase of CO 3 2--content enhances PO 4 3--substitution giving AB-type of CHAp. According to in vitro test, the bioactivity of the samples is increasing with the growth of carbonate content due to accumulation of the defects in CHAp nanocrystals.