Properties of β-Ca3(PO4)2 bioceramics prepared using nano-size powders

Nano-size β-TCP powders with average grain size of 100 nm were prepared by the precipitation method. The sinterability of the nano-size powders, and the microstructure, mechanical strength and the in vitro degradability of the prepared β-TCP bioceramics were investigated. The results showed that the nano-size powders possessed superior sintering properties as compared to the micro-size powders. The densification temperature and phase transition temperature of β-TCP bioceramics prepared using nano-size powders was clearly lower than that prepared using micro-size powders, and the maximum value of the bending strength, elastic modulus, Vickers hardness and compressive strength of the samples fabricated from nano-size powders were more than two-times higher as compared to those of samples fabricated from micro-size powders. Furthermore, the degradability of the β-TCP bioceramics fabricated from nano-size powders was much lower than for micro-size powders, suggesting the possible control of the degradability of the bioceramics by regulating powder size.