Improving bioactivity of inert bioceramics by a novel Mg-incorporated solution treatment

• Zirconia/alumina ceramics possess outstanding mechanical properties for dental and orthopedic applications, but due to their poor surface bioactivities they exhibit a weak bone-bonding ability. This work proposes an effective 30-min solution treatment which could successfully induce formation of bone-like apatite on the surface of 3Y-TZP and a ternary composite composed of yttria-stabilized zirconia, ceria-stabilized zirconia, and alumina (35 vol% 3Y-TZP + 35 vol% 12Ce-TZP + 30 vol% Al2O3) after 3 weeks immersion in simulated body fluid (SBF). XRD was used for phase identification in the ceramic materials. The influence of solution treatment on the surface chemistry and its role on apatite formation were investigated via SEM, EDS and XPS. In vitro apatite-forming ability for the solution-treated and untreated samples of the composite and individual substrates of 3Y-TZP, 12Ce-TZP, and Al2O3 was evaluated by immersion in SBF. Apatite crystals were formed only on 3Y-TZP and composite substrates, implying that it is mainly the 3Y-TZP constituent that contributes to the bioactivity of the composite. Further, it was found from the XPS analysis that the zirconia material with higher phase stability (12Ce-TZP) produced less Zr–OH functional groups on its surface after solution treatment which accounts for its weaker bioactivity compared to 3Y-TZP. 

Subject headings

TEKNIK OCH TEKNOLOGIER  -- Medicinteknik -- Medicinsk material- och protesteknik (hsv//swe)

ENGINEERING AND TECHNOLOGY  -- Medical Engineering -- Medical Materials (hsv//eng)

TEKNIK OCH TEKNOLOGIER  -- Materialteknik -- Keramteknik (hsv//swe)

ENGINEERING AND TECHNOLOGY  -- Materials Engineering -- Ceramics (hsv//eng)

Keyword

Alumina

Apatite

Bioactivity

Bioceramics

Bone

Ceramic materials

Chemical bonds

Hydroxyapatite

Phosphate minerals

Photodegradation

Surface chemistry

Temperature

X ray photoelectron spectroscopy

Zirconia

Composite substrate

Low temperature aging

Orthopedic applications

Phase identification

Simulated body fluids

Solution treatments

Stabilized zirconia

Surface bioactivity

Yttria stabilized zirconia

Publication and Content Type

ref (subject category)

art (subject category)