Nano- and microstructure of short fibre reinforced and unreinforced hydroxyaptite.

Hydroxyapatite (HA) and alumina short fibre reinforced hydroxyapatite (Al2O3/HA) were processed by uniaxial pressing of green bodies with 200 MPa and sintering in air for 4 hours at 1150 degrees C, 1175 degrees C and 1200 degrees C. The phase composition of the materials were investigated by transmission electron microscopy and Raman spectroscopy. Results were supported by X-ray diffraction. Amorphous calcium phosphate could be found either as islands in unreinforced HA or at the grain boundaries in the Al2O3/HA composite. The reinforced calcium phosphate contains an enhanced amount of decomposition products like tetracalcium phosphate.