Evaluation of the Potential of Barium Zirconate on the Sinterability and Properties of Bovine Hydroxyapatite

Abstract

In the present study, the potential of barium zirconate (BaZrO 3 ; 1-5 wt. %) on the sinterability, and properties of bovine hydroxyapatite (BHA) was evaluated. BHA decomposed into beta and alpha-tricalcium phosphate (β and α-TCP) at a 4.7 % rate. Tetracalcium phosphate (TTCP) was detected as the decomposition phase in the BaZrO 3 added BHAs, and it increased up to 10.7 % with an increasing BaZrO 3 ratio. In addition to TTCP, the phases of BaZrO 3 , Ba 2 ZrO 4 , σ-Ba 2 P 2 O 7 , Ba 3 P 2 O 8 and CaZrO 3 were detected in the composites. The addition of BaZrO 3 at an amount of 3 wt. % has a higher potential than the others to improve the sinterability and properties of BHA. It contributed to the increase in the fracture toughness from 0.99 ± 0.13 to 1.80 ± 0.12 MPa•m 1/2 and the compressive strength from 115. 75 ± 4.27 to 173.66 ± 13.61 MPa, and the decrease in the brittleness index from 4.24 ± 0.31 to 2.45 ± 0.15 µ -1/2 . The in-vitro bioactivity of BHA also increases with the additional BaZrO 3 . However; it is recommended to be used in applications that do not require load bearing in the human body due to its insufficient fracture toughness.