Tape-cast and sintered β-tricalcium phosphate laminates for biomedical applications: Effect of milled Al2O3 fiber additives on microstructural and mechanical properties.

The aim of this study was to develop the tape-cast, laminated, and sintered β-tricalcium phosphate (β-TCP) with milled Al(2)O(3) fibers for biomedical applications. Moreover, the effects of Al(2)O(3)-fiber content on the microstructural and mechanical properties of the sintered β-TCP laminates were investigated. The milled Al(2)O(3) fibers were added at four different contents, namely 0, 5, 10, or 15 mass%, to the initial β-TCP slurry. Next, β-TCP green sheets were fabricated from the β-TCP slurry containing the milled Al(2)O(3) fibers by a tape-casting method. Finally, six plies of β-TCP monolayer sheet were laminated and sintered at a maximum temperature of 1100°C in a furnace. The results showed that there were large differences between the apparent porosities, dynamic hardness, and flexural properties of the sintered β-TCP laminates with Al(2)O(3)-fiber contents of 0 and 5 mass%, but few differences among laminates with fiber contents of 5, 10, and 15 mass%. This indicates that the addition of only 5 mass% of Al(2)O(3) fibers strongly affects the degree of sintering, corresponding to crystallization of the β-TCP matrix phase. Furthermore, the flexural moduli of our materials ranged from 10.7 to 16.0 GPa when the Al(2)O(3)-fiber content changed from 5 to 15 mass% and were the almost same as those of human bones reported by other researchers. In conclusion, sintered β-TCP laminates with Al(2)O(3) fibers have potential uses in a wide range of biomedical applications because the microstructural and mechanical properties of the sintered β-TCP laminates can be controlled by adding Al(2)O(3) fibers to the β-TCP.