Fluorine-substituted HA reinforced with zircon as a novel nano-biocomposite ceramic: Preparation and characterization

Abstract

Abstract This work began with preparing hydroxyapatite from bovine bones and continued with doping fluorine into hydroxyapatite matrix to produce fluorine-doped hydroxyapatite in optimum conditions. At the end a fluorine hydroxyapatite–zircon nanocomposite ceramic with good bioactivity and good chemical stability was synthesized through a mechano-chemical route and subsequent two step sintering process. The ability of apatite formation on the produced nanocomposite samples, as a yardstick for evaluation of the bioactivity, was estimated by using simulated body fluid. According to the results obtained, after soaking the nanocomposite samples in the fluid solution, the pH value was increased during the first week of experiments. Furthermore, the concentration of the Ca ions at the end of the second week in the fluid solution was dependent on the Si – OH nucleation sites on the surface of nanocomposite.