Effect of ball milling process on the microstructure of titanium-nanohydroxyapatite composite powder

Titanium-nanohydroxyapatite (Ti-nHA) composite powders, composed of titanium with 10 vol.% and 20 vol.% of nano-hydroxyapatite, were milled in a planetary ball mill using alcohol media to avoid excessive heat. XRD and SEM were performed for characterization of the microstructure, and the homogeneity of Ti/HA nanocomposite powder was evaluated by EPMA with prolonged ball milling time. The results show that under the condition of wet milling, the grain size of Ti-nHA composite powders is decreased with the increase in ball milling time and the amount of the addition of nHA. While for milling of 30 h. the nanocomposite powder with fine structure, which consists of the nano-hydroxyapatite (nHA) particles and titanium (Ti) phase, is obtained. Three stages of milling can be observed from the element mapping of Ti, Ca. and P by EPMA; meanwhile, it is found that the nHA would be more homogenously distributed after milling for 30 h.