O. S. Antonova

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.

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.

Iron-substituted tricalcium phosphate ceramics

Porous iron-substituted tricalcium phosphate (FeTCP) ceramics with a Fe content of 0.49 and 1.09% has been developed. The hydrostatically estimated ceramics porosity is 40–45%. The solubility of ceramics in an isotonic solution has been studied. The solubility rate of FeTCP ceramics is slightly higher as compared with iron-free ceramics. Based on the results of in vitro tests of FeTCP ceramics on cultured fibroblasts, these materials are believed to be biocompatible. The developed materials can be recommended for use in medicine in the treatment of diseases associated with bone lesions.

Copper-substituted tricalcium phosphates

Copper-substituted tricalcium phosphates (CuTCP) with different copper contents were developed using precipitation of copper-containing amorphous calcium phosphates (ACP) from salt solutions followed by heat treatment. Porous CuTCP ceramic was obtained using negative replicas. Using a set of investigation methods (powder X-ray diffraction, IR spectroscopy, ESR spectroscopy, and scanning electron microscopy), all copper-substituted tricalcium phosphates were found to have the whitlockite structure with copper incorporated in TCP in the 2+ oxidation state. The resulting material is promising for the use in regenerative medicine owing to higher solubility in body fluids compared with TCP and combination of bactericidal properties and the lack of cytotoxicity.

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.

Low-Cycle Fatigue under Controlled Deformation and Fracture of the Superalloy VZh175

Low-cycle fatigue of the superalloy VZh175 heat-resistant alloy was studied under controlled deformation at room and high temperatures. The parameters of cyclic elastoplastic deformation and characteristics of fatigue strength were considered. The peculiarities of nucleation and development of low-cycle fatigue cracks were studied.

Agglomeration and Properties of Ceramics Based on Partially Stabilized Zirconium Dioxide Containing Oxides of Aluminum and Iron

Agglomeration of ceramics of partially stabilized zirconium dioxide containing 5 wt % of aluminum oxide depending on the amount of additive (iron oxide) was studied. It was shown that introduction of an additive promotes a decrease in agglomeration temperature to 1400–1450°С and formation of a dense structure, as well as acquisition of high strength up to 450 MPa (after agglomeration at 1400°С).