β-Tricalcium phosphate shaped by replica method

Abstract

Abstract Biomaterials, such as tricalcium phosphate, can have different resorption rates in the organism that depend on their physicochemical properties, where the surface condition, such as morphology, size of particles and porosity, is important. In this work, we studied the coating of natural Luffa cylindrica matrix with β-tricalcium phosphate, using the dip replica forming method, in order to adjust the surface conditions to meet the demand of bone resorption. The materials were characterized in terms of specific surface area, particle shape, imaging in electronic scanning microscope, and zeta potential in water media. The suspensions used for coating of the matrices were produced with distilled water and sodium silicate as dispersant and carboxymethyl cellulose as a binder element. Rheological measurements were performed on rotational rheometer and viscometer. The products generated with 2.5 wt% of sodium silicate and 0.75 wt% of carboxymethyl cellulose, after sintering, had pore sizes consistent with high rates of reabsorption and porosity that suggest a future use as a biomaterial.

Keywords

• tricalcium phosphate
• rheology
• replica method shaping