Articles
  • Effects of two-step sintering on the properties of hydroxyapatite bioceramic
  • S. Ramesha,*, C.J. Gana, L.T. Banga, A. Niakana, C.Y. Tana, J. Purbolaksonoa, Hari Chandranb, S. Rameshc, B.K. Yapd and W.D. Tenge
  • a Center for Advanced Manufacturing & Material Processing, Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur 50603, Malaysia b Division of Neurosurgery, Faculty of Medicine, University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur 50603, Malaysia c Centre for Ionics University of Malaya, Department of Physics, Faculty of Science, University of Malaya, 50603 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia d University of Tenaga Nasional, 43000 Kajang, Selangor, Malaysia e Ceramics Technology Group, SIRIM Berhad, Shah Alam 40911, Malaysia
Abstract
In the present study, the sintering behaviour of hydroxyapatite (HA) was investigated by employing the two-step and conventional sintering methods. Comparisons were made between different combinations of sintering temperatures to examine their influence on the sinterability of the samples. The sintered samples were examined in terms of phase stability, relative density, grain size, Vickers hardness, and fracture toughness. The results revealed that the two-step sintering cycle was effective in suppressing grain coarsening when compared to conventional sintering. The study also found that while employing the twostep sintering, the selected temperature (T1) at which densification occurs plays a major role in determining the mechanical properties of HA samples.

Keywords: Bioceramic, Two-Step Sintering, Densification, Sinterability.

This Article

  • 2015; 16(6): 683-689

    Published on Dec 31, 2015