Mechanical Properties of Beta-Tricalcium Phosphate Doped with Metal Ions

Abstract

Beta-tricalcium phosphate (β-TCP) is one of the most attractive biomaterials used for bone repair because of its excellent biological compatibility and safety in living tissues. However, β-TCP shows relatively high solubility in living tissues and lower mechanical properties than natural bone. In our previous studies, it was found that the addition of metal ions to β-TCP formed the solid solution and stabilized β-phase, resulting in the inhibition of β-α phase transformation at high temperature. In addition, the solubility of β-TCP powders doped with metal ions was lower than that of non-doped β-TCP under in vitro condition. In this study, β-TCP doped with univalent and divalent metal ions were prepared via solid state reaction, and mechanical properties of β-TCP hot-pressed at 1100 °C were investigated. Furthermore, the effect of addition of metal ions on the mechanical properties of hot-pressed β-TCP was studied.