SINTERING BEHAVIOUR OF FORSTERITE-DOPED HYDROXYAPATITE CERAMICS

In this present work, the effect of forsterite addition on the thermal stability, microstructure and mechanical properties of hydroxyapatite was investigated. Four different forsterite-doped hydroxyapatite (HA-F) compositions were used in this study ranging from 5, 10 and 20 wt.% forsterite. The HA-F ceramics were prepared by powder mixing and ball milling followed by sintering in air at temperatures ranging from 1100oC to 1350oC. The sintered bodies were studied in terms of the phase stability, grain size, relative density, Vickers hardness, fracture toughness and Young modulus. The results indicated that the presences of forsterite promoted the decomposition of hydroxyapatite, was effective in reducing grain growth and improved the fracture toughness of the sintered body. The results revealed that the mechanical properties of the composite was governed by both the grain size and bulk density.