Hydroxyapatite sintering characteristics: correlation with powder morphology by high-resolution microscopy

Abstract

Hydroxyapatite Cal0(PO4)6(OH)2 (HAp) is a hydrated calcium phosphate ceramic that closely resembles the chemical composition of bone mineral and is therefore one of the small group of bonereplacement materials classed as bioactive, i.e. capable of bonding chemically with bone [1]. This group includes calcium phosphate ceramics, which, although chemically similar to HAp, are generally more prone to in vitro dissolution [2], and certain calcium phosphate glass compositions [1]. Thus HAp is a prime candidate for bone replacement applications.