FTIR and XRD investigations on the thermal stability of hydroxyapatite during hot pressing and pressureless sintering processes

In the work samples of hydroxyapatite ceramics have been obtained by two methods, i.e. by hot pressing and by pressureless sintering in the temperature range of 1150-1300 °C. The materials prepared have been studied using FTIR and XRD in order to identify the dehydroxylation processes and the possible hydroxyapatite decomposition during thermal treatment. The usefulness of both methods in identification of thermal stability of hydroxyapatite was confirmed.