Author : Siwar Sakka , Jamel Bouaziz and Foued Ben Ayed

The effect of -tricalcium phosphate additive on the alumina matrix was investigated. The sintering behaviour of the alumina – tricalcium phosphate composites was characterized by using magic angle spinning nuclear magnetic resonance, X-ray diffraction, dilatometry, differential thermal analysis and scanning electron microscopy analysis. The mechanical properties of composites have been investigated by the Brazilian test. The produced alumina – tricalcium phosphate composites with different percentages of - tricalcium phosphate (10 wt%; 20 wt%; 40 wt% and 50 wt%) exhibited much better mechanical properties than the reported values of β- tricalcium phosphate without alumina. The alumina – tricalcium phosphate composites showed a higher rupture strength at 1600°C, which certainly increased with the alumina content and reached the optimum value with 90 wt%. The best mechanical properties of the composites were obtained after the sintering process at 1600°C for 1 hour. With different weight rations of alumina: tricalcium phosphate (50:50, 60:40 and 80:20), the performance of the composites was hindered by the formation of both cracks and intragranular porosity.

Keywords: Bioceramics, β- tricalcium phosphate, Alumina, Composites, Sintering, Mechanical properties

Article published in International Journal of Current  Engineering  and Technology, Vol.3,No.5(Dec- 2013)