抄録
The compound β-tricalcium phosphate (β-TCP) is widely used as a bioresorbable ceramic, but lacks mechanical strength and so has limited clinical applications. The present study substituted vanadium in either the trivalent (V3+) or pentavalent (V5+) states into this material and evaluated the effects on sintering behavior and microstructural evolution. Various β-TCP ceramics having specific proportions of V3+ and V5+ were synthesized via a solid-state reaction process and subsequently characterized, using X-ray diffraction, Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy, dilatometry, Archimedes’ method, scanning electron microscopy and grain size measurements. All specimens were found to comprise a single-phase β-TCP structure with the V5+ incorporated at P sites as VO4 groups and the V3+ occupying Ca sites. Increasing the V5+ content promoted densification, reduced porosity and suppressed grain growth, leading to fine-grained, dense microstructures. In contrast, V3+ substitution inhibited shrinkage and densification while facilitating grain coarsening and pore retention. These findings demonstrate that the valence state of the vanadium had a significant effect on the sintering characteristics and microstructural development. The complementary roles of V3+ and V5+ suggest a novel approach to tailoring the microstructure of this ceramic, thereby expanding the potential of β-TCP as an advanced bioresorbable bone graft material.
