title: Effect of ZrO2 addition on the mechanical properties of porous TiO2 bone scaffolds.
abstract: This study aimed at the investigation of the effect of zirconium dioxide (ZrO2) addition on the mechanical properties of titanium dioxide (TiO2) bone scaffolds. The highly biocompatible TiO2 has been identified as a promising material for bone scaffolds, whereas the more bioinert ZrO2 is known for its excellent mechanical properties. Ultra-porous TiO2 scaffolds (>89% porosity) were produced using polymer sponge replication with 0-40 wt.% of the TiO2 raw material substituted with ZrO2. Microstructure, chemical composition, and pore architectural features of the prepared ceramic foams were characterised and related to their mechanical strength. Addition of 1 wt.% of ZrO2 led to 16% increase in the mean compressive strength without significant changes in the pore architectural parameters of TiO2 scaffolds. Further ZrO2 additions resulted in reduction of compressive strength in comparison to containing no ZrO2. The appearance of zirconium titanate (ZrTiO4) phase was found to hinder the densification of the ceramic material during sintering resulting in poor intergranular connections and thus significantly reducing the compressive strength of the highly porous ceramic foam scaffolds.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biomaterials, Institute for Clinical Dentistry, University of Oslo, PO Box 1109 Blindern, NO-0317 Oslo, Norway.
authors.forename: Hanna
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Tiainen
authors.affiliation: Department of Biomaterials, Institute for Clinical Dentistry, University of Oslo, PO Box 1109 Blindern, NO-0317 Oslo, Norway; Institute of Medical and Polymer Engineering, Chair of Medical Engineering, Technische Universität München, Boltzmannstrasse 15, 85748 Garching, Germany.
authors.forename: Georg
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Eder
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, University of Oslo, PO Box 1033 Blindern, NO-0315 Oslo, Norway.
authors.forename: Ola
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Nilsen
authors.affiliation: Department of Biomaterials, Institute for Clinical Dentistry, University of Oslo, PO Box 1109 Blindern, NO-0317 Oslo, Norway.
authors.forename: Håvard J
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Haugen
mesh_terms: D001672:Biocompatible Materials / Q000737:chemistry; D001842:Bone and Bones / Q000502:physiology; D002516:Ceramics / Q000737:chemistry; D019245:Compressive Strength; D011108:Polymers / Q000737:chemistry; D016062:Porosity; D013314:Stress, Mechanical; D023822:Tissue Engineering / Q000379:methods; D014025:Titanium / Q000737:chemistry*; D015040:Zirconium / Q000737:chemistry*
chemical_list: D001672:Biocompatible Materials; D011108:Polymers; C009495:titanium dioxide; D015040:Zirconium; D014025:Titanium; C028541:zirconium oxide