Mechanical strength of extrusion freeformed calcium phosphate filaments.

Hydroxyapatite-tricalcium phosphate mixtures of various compositions were extruded by a solid free-forming process to form lattice structures to serve as hard tissue scaffolds. The unwelded filaments, sintered at temperatures from 1100 to 1300 degrees C, had radii from 115 to 135 microm and were tested in three point flexural loading using a purpose-built fixture. Flexural strength ranged from 20 to 100 MPa depending on composition and sintering temperature. Weibull moduli up to 13 were obtained. Compositions with 50% or more tri-calcium phosphate did not develop strengths much above 40 MPa and the strength of most compositions fell when the sintering temperature exceeded 1250 degrees C. Multiple layer lattice structures were created and tested in compression.