Low‐Temperature Processing of Dense Hydroxyapatite–Zirconia Composites

Abstract

Hydroxyapatite (HA)–YTZP (2, 5, 7.5, and 10 wt% ZrO 2 ) composite powders prepared from inorganic precursors were characterized by FTIR, DSC/TG, XRD, and TEM. The calcined powders had HA and t / c ‐ZrO 2 , which undergo structural changes between 650°C and 1050°C. TEM of calcined powder showed larger HA particles (100 nm) and smaller ZrO 2 particles (≤50 nm). HA and HA–2 wt% ZrO 2 ‐sintered samples had 98% density and it was (90–95%) for HA–5, 7.5, and 10 wt% ZrO 2 . The bending strength of HA–2wt% ZrO 2 composites was 72 MPa. The grain sizes of HA showed a refinement with ZrO 2 addition.