Evaluation of the potential of barium zirconate on the sinterability and properties of bovine hydroxyapatite

Abstract

In the present study, the potential of barium zirconate (BaZrO₃; 1-5 wt%) on the sinterability, and properties of bovine hydroxyapatite (BHA) was evaluated. BHA decomposed into beta and alpha-tricalcium phosphate (β and α-TCP) at a 4.7% rate. Tetracalcium phosphate (TTCP) was detected as the decomposition phase in the BaZrO₃ added BHAs, and it increased up to 10.7% with an increasing BaZrO₃ ratio. In addition to TTCP, the phases of BaZrO₃, Ba₂ZrO₄, σ-Ba₂P₂O₇, Ba₃P₂O₈ and CaZrO₃ were detected in the composites. The addition of BaZrO₃ at an amount of 3 wt% has a higher potential than the others to improve the sinterability and properties of BHA. It contributed to the increase in the fracture toughness from 0.99 ± 0.13 to 1.80 ± 0.12 MPam1/2 and the compressive strength from 115.75 ± 4.27 to 173.66 ± 13.61 MPa, and the decrease in the brittleness index from 4.24 ± 0.31 to 2.45 ± 0.15 μ-1/2. The in-vitro bioactivity of BHA also increases with the additional BaZrO₃. However; it is recommended to be used in applications that do not require load bearing in the human body due to its insufficient fracture toughness.