Year: 2026
Type: article
Abstract: : The biological behaviour of carbonated hydroxyapatites (CHAs) can be tailored by controlling their microstructure and carbonate substitution rate and site. This work investigates the feasibility, reproducibility and relevance of single-mode microwave (MW) hybrid reactive sintering applied to A-type carbonated hydroxyapatites, as this process has never been investigated yet under controlled atmosphere. Pellets of powder composed of 96.3 wt. % HA and 3.7 wt. % β-TCP (β-Tricalcium Phosphate) were uniaxially pressed and sintered for 2 minutes at 1180°C with heating and cooling rates of 100°C.min -1 . The temperature was measured using a previously calibrated pyrometer and regulated with a custom-made PID program. Sintering experiments were carried out under dry CO 2 , wet CO 2 , dry Ar and wet Ar atmospheres to vary the final A-site composition. No decomposition was observed after sintering. Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy analysis confirmed that A-type CHA was obtained under dry and wet CO 2, with mean carbonatation rates of 0.91 ± 0.29 wt. % and 0.48 ± 0.05 wt. %, respectively. Heterogeneous grain sizes were observed for all the sintering atmospheres. The composition of the sintering atmosphere had no significant effect on the final densification rate. Compared with conventional techniques, MW sintering of CHA resulted in low and reproducible carbonatation rates and fine (but heterogeneous) microstructures at a comparable final density. The MW sintering method could improve the biological versatility of CHA by increasing its range of physicochemical properties.
Source: Ceramics International
Language: English
Subfield: Biomedical Engineering
Field: Engineering
Domain: Physical Sciences
Open Access status: hybrid
Estimated APC paid: $3,830
Funder: Agence Nationale de la Recherche
OpenAlex ID: W7213658226