Abstract
The rheological behavior of hydroxyapatite and partially stabilized zirconia mixed slurries is investigated in order to study the production of hydroxyapatite / zirconia functionally graded materials by slurry dipping method. The purpose of this material is to use as a dental implant material. The rheological behavior of hydroxyapatite and zirconia, which strongly contributes to the resultant thickness of FGM layer, is different between hydroxyapatite (Newtonian fluid) and zirconia (non-Bingham plastic fluid). The mixed slurries.of hydroxyapatite and zirconia slurries show the strong contribution of zirconia when the shear rate is low, but the rheology of hydroxyapatite is dominated when the shear stress is high. On the other hand, the optimum dispersant concentration changes linearly with change in the composition of hydroxyapatite and zirconia.
