Meso-Macroporous Hydroxyapatite Powders Synthesized in Polyvinyl Alcohol or Polyvinylpyrrolidone Media

Abstract

Mesoporous hydroxyapatite (HA) is widely used in various applications, such as the biomedical field, as a catalytic, as a sensor, and many others. The aim of this work was to obtain HA powders by means of chemical precipitation in a medium containing a polymer—polyvinyl alcohol or polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP)—with concentrations ranging from 0 to 10%. The HA powders were characterized by X-ray diffraction, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, atomic emission spectroscopy with inductively coupled plasma, electron paramagnetic resonance, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The specific surface area (SSA), pore volume, and pore size distributions were determined by low-temperature nitrogen adsorption measurements, and the zeta potential was established. The formation of macropores in powder agglomerates was determined using SEM and TEM. The synthesis in 10% PVP increased the SSA from 101.3 to 158.0 m2/g, while the ripening for 7 days led to an increase from 112.3 to 195.8 m2/g, with the total pore volume rising from 0.37 to 0.71 cm3/g. These materials could be classified as meso-macroporous HA. Such materials can serve as the basis for various applications requiring improved textural properties and may lay the foundation for the creation of bulk 3D materials using a technique that allows for the preservation of their unique pore structure.