Porous Apatite Ceramics Derived from Woods

Porous calcium phosphate ceramics (apatite and TCP) with wood-like microstructures, analogous to that of silicified wood, were prepared from natural woods as templates. The production of these ceramic woods was performed by the following process: (1) infiltration with an ethanol solution containing tri-ethyl phosphate and calcium nitrate tetra-hydrate into wood specimens, (2) drying to form a calcium phosphate gel in the cell structure, (3) firing in air to form apatite and TCP. The microstructure of the obtained ceramic woods retained the same structure as that of the raw woods: with the pore sizes corresponding to those of the original wood, and the major pores being unidirectionally connected.