Consolidation of nanocrystalline hydroxyapatite powder

The effect of sintering temperature on the sinterability of synthesized nanocrystalline hydroxyapatite (HA) was investigated. The starting powder was synthesized via a novel wet chemical route. HA green compacts were prepared and sintered in atmospheric condition at various temperatures ranging from 900-1300 °C. The results revealed that the thermal stability of HA phase was not disrupted throughout the sintering regime employed. In general, the results showed that above 98% of theoretical density coupled with hardness of 7.21 GPa, fracture toughness of 1.17 MPa m1/2 and Young's modulus of above 110 GPa were obtained for HA sintered at temperature as low as 1050 °C. Although the Young's modulus increased with increasing bulk density, the hardness and fracture toughness of the sintered material started to decline when the temperature was increased beyond 1000-1050 °C despite exhibiting high densities >98% of theoretical value. The occurrence of this phenomenon is believed to be associated with a thermal-activated grain growth process.