Preparation of Porous Ca ₁₀ (PO ₄ ) ₆ (OH) ₂ and β‐Ca ₃ (PO ₄ ) ₂ Bioceramics

Abstract

Submicrometer‐sized, pure calcium hydroxyapatite (HA, (Ca 10 (PO 4 ) 6 (OH) 2 )) and β‐tricalcium phosphate (β‐TCP, Ca 3 (PO 4 ) 2 ) bioceramic powders, that have been synthesized via chemical precipitation techniques, were used in the preparation of aqueous slurries that contained methyl cellulose to manufacture porous (70%–95% porosity) HA or β‐TCP ceramics. The pore sizes in HA bioceramics of this study were 200–400 μm, whereas those of β‐TCP bioceramics were 100–300 μm. The pore morphology and total porosity of the HA and β‐TCP samples were investigated via scanning electron microscopy, water absorption, and computerized tomography.