Synthesis and characterization of carbonate hydroxyapatite

Substituted apatite ceramics are of clinical interest as they offer the potential to improve the bioactive properties of implants. Carbonate hydroxyapatite (CHA) has been synthesized by an aqueous precipitation method and precipitates with two different levels of carbonate, processed as powders. Sintering experiments were performed to establish the influence of carbonate in significantly reducing the temperature required to prepare high-density ceramics when compared with stoichiometric hydroxyapatite (HA). High-temperature X-ray diffraction was used to characterize the phase stability of the apatites on sintering. Increasing carbonate content was shown to reduce the temperature at which decomposition occurred, to phases of CaO and beta-TCP. Mechanical testing, performed using biaxial flexure, showed that the CHA specimens had strengths similar to stoichiometric HA.