Production and characterization of ternary sheep hydroxyapatite (SHA)-wollastonite (W)-commercial inert glass (CIG) biocomposite

Hydroxyapatite [HA] is the most widely accepted biomaterial for the repair and reconstruction of bone tissue defects. It has all the characteristic features of biomaterials such as biocompatible, bioactive, osteoconductive, nontoxic, non-inflammatory and non-immunogenic properties. It has low mechanical properties for load bearing applications. HA must be reinforced with other ceramics or metals to produce more load resistible composites. HA also can be produced from natural materials such as bovine, sheep, chicken, human bones, fish bones with simple calcination method. In this study, 5 wt% wollastonite and 5 wt% commercial inert glass were added to sheep hydroxyapatite together to improve mechanical properties. Mechanical properties of composite increased with increasing sintering temperature. The highest Vickers microhardness and compression strength values were obtained with SHA-5 wt% wollastonite- 5 wt % CIG composite sintered at 1300ºC as 197 HV and 94 MPa, respectively.