M. A. Goldberg

Magnesium-substituted calcium phosphate cements with (Ca + Mg)/P = 2

The introduction of magnesium ions into bone calcium phosphate cements (CPCs) increases the strength and biodegradation rate of the materials. Cement powders with the (Ca + Mg)/P ratio of 2 and the degree of magnesium substitution for calcium of 0, 10, 20, and 40 wt % were used in the study. Sodium phosphate-based solutions were used as the cement fluids. Depending on the magnesium content, CPCs based on magnesium-substituted apatite and whitlockite phases were obtained. The phase composition, setting time, strength, and microstructure of the cements were determined. An increase in the acidity of the cement liquid was found to give cements with a greater content of amorphous phase and more homogeneous structure, resulting in higher strength.

Effect of mechanical activation of powders on the sintering of calcium carbonate-based ceramic materials containing carbonated hydroxyapatite

79 Calcium carbonate based materials containing carbonated hydroxyapatite are promising as materials for replacing and restoration of bone defects [1]. The key technological drawback of these materials is low temperature thermal decomposition of calcium car bonate, which prevents sintering [2, 3]. This accounts for low strength of materials and precludes using them as implants bearing mechanical load [4]. The activity of ceramic powders toward sintering can be enhanced by mechanical activation (MA) [5].

Nanoceramics Composite Biomaterials in the Calcium Carbonate-Hydroxyapatite System

Composite powders in the calcium carbonate (CC) – hydroxyapatite (HA) system with carbonate content up to 50 wt. % were synthesized by the precipitation from aqueous solution and characterized in detail. Specific area of the powders decreases with an increase in carbonate content due to appearance of large elongated CC crystals of about 0,5 micrometer size. The use of highly active to sintering nanodisperse powders resulted in lowering of sintering temperature below 7200C, preventing thermal decomposition. Ceramics of about 20 wt.% carbonate content revealed the highest strength of about 77 MPa, having the grain size of about 100 nm. According to in vitro testing, the materials are non toxic for human fibroblast cells.

Study of liquid-phase sintering of materials based on zirconium dioxide containing alumina

The dependence of the sintering of zirconium dioxide on the aluminum oxide content and the use of additives forming the liquid phase during sintering is studied. Dense nanostructured ceramic materials based on zirconium dioxide containing aluminum oxide are synthesized. It is shown that the use of additives based on sodium silicate contributes to the sintering and the formation of a nonporous structure at 1330°C. It is revealed that aluminum oxide in the amount of 1 and 5 wt % increases the density of materials, while at the content of 16 wt % the sintering until the dense state does not occur even at temperatures up to 1550°C.

Effect of titanium and zirconium substitutions for calcium on the formation and structure of tricalcium phosphate and hydroxyapatite

The effect of Ti and Zr substitutions for Ca cations on the formation of tricalcium phosphate and hydroxyapatite has been studied in a wide concentration range: from 0.1 to 20 mol %. Upon the incorporation of Ti and Zr cations into tricalcium phosphate, the major forming phase is β-tricalcium phosphate. On the addition of low substituent concentrations to hydroxyapatite, we observe the formation of a single-phase material with the apatite structure. Increasing the substituent concentration to 10–20 mol % Ti or 20 mol % Zr leads to the formation of tricalcium phosphate. The unit-cell volume of the cation-substituted tricalcium phosphates has been shown to decrease with increasing substituent concentration. In the zirconium-containing hydroxyapatites, the unit-cell volume decreases with increasing zirconium concentration, whereas the titanium-containing hydroxyapatites exhibit an opposite tendency.

Sintering and microstructure of materials based on the fluorohydroxyapatite–ZrO2–Al2O3 system

We have studied the influence of the sintering temperature and modifying additives on the phase composition, microstructure, and mechanical strength of a fluorohydroxyapatite-based composite ceramic material containing 20 wt % zirconia. The addition of 5 wt % alumina has been shown to prevent recrystallization processes and contribute to phase composition stabilization. Moreover, the addition of a sintering aid (2 wt %) has made it possible to lower the sintering temperature to 1200°C and raise the bending strength of the material to 143 MPa.

Heat treatment-induced phase transformations of materials in a system of calcium phosphates and magnesium phosphates with (Ca + Mg)/P = 2

We have studied the effect of heat treatment in a wide temperature range (from 300 to 1500°C) on the phase composition, heat effects and weight loss of powder materials in a system of calcium phosphates and magnesium phosphates with (Ca + Mg)/P = 2. The results demonstrate that crystalline magnesium-substituted whitlockite phases begin to form at temperatures above 600°C. Raising the heat treatment temperature reduces the degree of magnesium substitution for calcium in the structure of the magnesium-substituted whitlockite. Tetracalcium phosphate, a high-temperature phase, is formed through apatite phase recrystallization.

Bone cements in the calcium phosphate–calcium sulfate system

Cement materials in the calcium phosphate–calcium sulfate system were proposed for bone tissue reconstruction. Mixtures of calcium sulfate and amorphous calcium sulfate in the weight ratios 20: 80, 40: 60, 60: 40, and 80: 20 were used as a cement flour, and an acidic solution of orthophosphoric acid was used as a setting liquid. Cement materials based on dicalcium phosphate dihydrate and calcium sulfate were obtained, and the phase composition, setting time, compressive strength, and microstructure of cements were studied. A phenomenon of dispersion strengthening of cements by adding 20 wt % calcium sulfate was detected. The obtained cement stone had a strength to 60 MPa, a setting time of 6–7 min, and uniform microstructure with a crystal size of 1–2 μm.

Influence of Lithium on the Structure and Phase Composition Formation in the Synthesis of Hydroxyapatite

The influence of lithium substitution for calcium over a broad concentration range (0–20 mol %) on the crystal lattice parameters, coherent scattering regions, and phase composition was studied for hydroxyapatite synthesized by precipitation from solutions and heat treatment at 900, 1200, and 1400°C. The lithium substitution in a more than 10 mol % concentration and increase in the heat treatment temperature to 1400°C give rise to a complex phase composition, which includes not only the apatite phase, but also two tricalcium phosphate phases and calcium pyrophosphate. The results are useful for the development of hydroxyapatite-based materials for bone surgery.

Influence of ripening in mother solution on characteristics of magnesium-substituted calcium phosphate powders

Effect of ripening in the mother liquor on the degree of crystallinity and dispersity of mixed powders of calcium and magnesium phosphates is studied as a function of magnesium content with the elemental composition such that (Ca + Mg)/P = 2. Ripening is found to have a positive effect on crystallinity of the apatite phase of powders. Nanocrystals with lowered tendency to aggregation are formed during the ripening period, which affords the powders with specific surface area as high as 80 m2/g. The morphology of the constituent particles depends on the magnesium content. Crystallization processes are essentially completed by the 21st day of ripening.