The role of binder in the manufacturing of bone implants: A review.

People's demand for healthcare has shifted from seeking medical treatment after illness to maintaining active health into later years, as the population has aged and the economic climate has improved. Hydroxyapatite is a bioactive material with a porous structure that can resemble native bone due to its biocompatibility, biodegradability, and bioactivity. Hydroxyapatite's use in medicine, however, is limited due to its poor mechanical properties. Stainless steels, titanium alloys, iron and magnesium alloys, and other biocompatible materials. The distinct properties of these materials can be combined to create a composite material for medical applications. Powder injection molding (PIM) is one of the processes to manufacture the composite system of hydroxyapatite and metal powders. Among the processing parameters in the PIM, the interactions among the binder system components are critical for improving the processing properties of the powder injection molding feedstock. In this work, some potential binders for combining hydroxyapatite and metals for use as biomaterials are reviewed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]