title: Thermal and ultrasonic influence in the formation of nanometer scale hydroxyapatite bio-ceramic.
abstract: Hydroxyapatite (HAP) is a widely used biocompatible ceramic in many biomedical applications and devices. Currently nanometer-scale forms of HAP are being intensely investigated due to their close similarity to the inorganic mineral component of the natural bone matrix. In this study nano-HAP was prepared via a wet precipitation method using Ca(NO(3))(2) and KH(2)PO(4) as the main reactants and NH(4)OH as the precipitator under ultrasonic irradiation. The Ca/P ratio was set at 1.67 and the pH was maintained at 9 during the synthesis process. The influence of the thermal treatment was investigated by using two thermal treatment processes to produce ultrafine nano-HAP powders. In the first heat treatment, a conventional radiant tube furnace was used to produce nano-particles with an average size of approximately 30 nm in diameter, while the second thermal treatment used a microwave-based technique to produce particles with an average diameter of 36 nm. The crystalline structure and morphology of all nanoparticle powders produced were investigated using X-ray diffraction (XRD), field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR). Both thermal techniques effectively produced ultrafine powders with similar crystalline structure, morphology and particle sizes.
authors: Murdoch Applied Nanotechnology Research Group, Department of Physics, Energy Studies and Nanotechnology, School of Engineering and Energy, Murdoch University, Murdoch, Western Australia, Australia. g.poinern@murdoch.edu.au
authors: G J E
authors: GJ
authors: Poinern
authors: R
authors: R
authors: Brundavanam
authors: X Thi
authors: XT
authors: Le
authors: S
authors: S
authors: Djordjevic
authors: M
authors: M
authors: Prokic
authors: D
authors: D
authors: Fawcett
mesh_terms: D001672:Biocompatible Materials / Q000737:chemistry*; D002516:Ceramics / Q000737:chemistry*; D055598:Chemical Phenomena / Q000528:radiation effects; D017886:Durapatite / Q000737:chemistry*; D006358:Hot Temperature; D008872:Microwaves; D053758:Nanoparticles / Q000737:chemistry*; D010316:Particle Size; D017550:Spectroscopy, Fourier Transform Infrared; D014465:Ultrasonics; D014961:X-Ray Diffraction
chemical_list: D001672:Biocompatible Materials; D017886:Durapatite