Effect of Silicon Dioxide Nanoparticles on the Sintering Properties of Beta-Tricalcium Phosphate Composites

Abstract

Composite sintered bodies comprising silicon dioxide (SiO2) nanoparticles dispersed in β-tricalcium phosphate (β-TCP) were prepared. The addition of nano-sized colloidal SiO2 to the β-TCP produced well-dispersed secondary phase nanoparticles that promoted densification by suppressing grain growth and increasing linear shrinkage of the sintered bodies. The SiO2 was found not to react with the β-TCP at 1120 °C and the substitution of silicon for phosphorous to produce a solid solution did not occur. This lack of a reaction is ascribed to the absence of available calcium ions to compensate for the increase in charge associated with this substitution. The SiO2 nanoparticles were found to be present near the intersections of grain boundaries in the β-TCP. β-TCP composite sintered body containing 2.0 and 4.0 wt% SiO2 exhibited a bending strength comparable to that of cortical bone and hence could potentially be used as a bone filling material.