Tape-casting technique can prepare ?-TCP sheets with uniform thickness and flexibility

The preparation of calcium phosphate adsorbent from natural calcium resource and its application for copper ion removal

Using the hen eggshells (biowaste) as a source of calcium and an environmentally friendly approach, the nanopowder composed of 74% of hydroxyapatite (HA) and 26% of β-tricalcium phosphate (β-TCP) was obtained. Due to the maximum reduction of the stages associated with the use of chemicals and energy, this method can be considered as economically and environmentally friendly. A well-developed surface area and the negative zeta potential at pH above 3.5 indicate good adsorption properties of this material. The obtained material shows high adsorption capacity towards Cu²⁺ ions, i.e. 105.4 mg/g at pH 5. Good fit of the Langmuir adsorption model and the pseudo-second-order kinetic model may indicate chemical adsorption probably due to the electrostatic interactions between the Cu²⁺ cations and the negatively charged phosphate and hydroxyl groups on the material surface.

Characterization of sintered TCP sheets with various contents of binder prepared by tape-casting technique

OBJECTIVES

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of binder content on the characterization of sintered tricalcium phosphate (TCP) sheets prepared by the tape-casting technique.

METHODS

Poly(acrylic acid)-based binder was added at four contents: 5, 10, 15, or 30 mass%, to a beta-TCP aqueous slurry. The TCP green sheets were fabricated with the prepared TCP slurry by the tape-casting technique, and were sintered at 1200 degrees C for 2h. The sintered TCP sheets were characterized by field-emission scanning electron microscope (FE-SEM) observation, X-ray diffraction (XRD) and Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) spectrometry. Apatite precipitation on the sintered TCP sheet surface in Hanks' balanced salt (HBS) solution at pH 7.4 was monitored over 14 days at 37 degrees C.

RESULTS

A TCP green sheet with 5 mass% binder content had insufficient flexibility before sintering, and that with 30 mass% binder content had a problem in controlling the viscosity of slurry. FE-SEM observation showed that no differences in grain size existed in the various sintered TCP sheets. Measurement of XRD and FT-IR showed the presence of alpha-TCP phase in the various sintered TCP sheets, and same crystallographic structure was observed among various sintered TCP sheets. After 14 days immersion in HBS solution, the surfaces of sintered TCP sheets were completely covered with precipitated apatite crystals.

SIGNIFICANCE

The binder content of 10 or 15 mass% is suitable for sintering TCP sheets. The sintered TCP sheet prepared by the tape-casting technique is a promising material as bone substitute.

Sintered Hydroxyapatite / Bioactive Glass Composites: Thermal Analysis and Bioactivity

Three-dimensionally ordered materials containing hydroxyapatite (HAp) as well as Bioglass® (BG) have been prepared in form of pellets and have been examined the effects of BG addition -in combination with a heat treatment process- on biological properties of composite HAp/BG. The investigation of the bioactive behavior of sintered and unheated biphasic mixtures and the deviations from pure HAp was performed by FTIR spectroscopy and Differential Thermal Analysis. It was observed the appearance of new phases on sintered composite pellets, while a faster biological HAp layer formation was detected, on the composite unheated pellets’ surface than on pure HAp and sintered composite pellets, currently leading to increased bioactivity.

Characterization and bioactivity of tape-cast and sintered TCP sheets

The purpose of this study was to investigate the influence of sintering temperature on in vivo and in vitro bioactivities of sintered tricalcium phosphate (TCP) sheets prepared by the tape casting technique. Green sheets of beta-TCP prepared by tape casting were sintered for 2 h in a furnace at atmospheric pressure, at five different sintering temperatures: 900, 1000, 1100, 1150, and 1200 degrees C. Measurement of X-ray diffraction and Fourier transform infrared spectrometry showed the presence of alpha-tricalcium phosphate phase in the TCP sheet sintered at 1200 degrees C, in addition to beta-TCP phase. As compared with the other sintered TCP sheet, the TCP sheet sintered at 1200 degrees C demonstrated a lower dissolution rate in phosphate buffered saline solution at 37 degrees C and pH 7.4 over 24 weeks, and more amount of apatite formation in Hanks' balanced salt solution with pH 7.4 was observed. After 4 weeks' implantation of sintered TCP sheets into tibial diaphyses of rabbits, the bone-sheet contact of the TCP sheet sintered at 1200 degrees C was significantly higher than that of the TCP sheet sintered at 900 degrees C. These results indicate that a flat sintered TCP sheet prepared by tape casting is a promising material for a bone substitute.