Fabrication of hydroxyapatite bodies by uniaxial pressing from a precipitated powder.

Hydroxyapatite (OHAp) has been obtained by using a precipitation method. Thermal stability of the precipitated powder has been checked to define an appropriate working range to process ceramic bodies without the appearance of odd phases. Pellets of hydroxyapatite have been manufactured by means of uniaxial pressing and convenient thermal treatments have been investigated to achieve high density OHAp bodies. Finally, factors that could affect the ultimate mechanical properties of the sintered bodies prepared by uniaxial pressing have been discussed.