Characterization of sintered titanium/hydroxyapatite biocomposite using FTIR spectroscopy

Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy was employed to characterize the phase changes of hydroxyapatite (Ca(10)(PO(4))(6)(OH)(2), HA) in a titanium/HA biocomposite during sintering. The effects of sintering temperature and the presence of Ti on the decomposition of HA were examined. It was observed that pure HA was stable in argon atmosphere at temperatures up to 1,200 degrees C, although the dehydroxylation of pure HA was promoted by the increase in sintering temperature. In the Ti/HA system, on the other hand, the presence of Ti accelerated dehydroxylation and the decomposition of HA was detected at a temperature as low as 800 degrees C. Tetracalcium phosphate (Ca(4)P(2)O(9), TTCP) and calcium oxide (CaO) were the dominant products of the decomposition, but no tricalcium phosphate (Ca(3)(PO(4))(2), TCP) was detected due to phosphorus diffusion and possible reactions during the thermal process. The main decomposed constituents of HA in Ti/HA system at high temperatures (> or =1,200 degrees C) would be CaO and amorphous phases.