Titanium--hydroxyapatite porous structures for endosseous applications.

Materials for uncemented endosseous implants have to assure an as short as possible osseointegration time. Thus, a material with both surface bioactivity and a porous outer structure can become a preferred choice for this type of applications. This paper presents a class of titanium-base PM composites, reinforced with particulate hydroxyapatite. Raw materials were titanium powder, obtained through hydriding--milling--dehydriding, with the grain size of 63-100 microm, and sol-gel hydroxyapatite (HA) powder, produced by the reaction between Ca(NO3)2 x 4H2O and (NH4)2HPO4. Blends with 5 to 50% HA were prepared and pressed in a rigid die, producing single composition or gradual composition samples. The applied pressure was of 400, 500 or 600 MPa. Sintering was performed in vacuum, at 1160 ( composite function)C. All samples, although well sintered, displayed swelling during sintering, due to diffusion into the matrix. The increase in volume is more severe for higher amounts of HA in the green compacts and for higher applied compaction pressure. Compacts with a gradual increase of the HA content are recommended from the functional and mechanical point of view, but the increase should be slow, not to produce interlayer cracks. The outer surface shows interconnected pores, suitable for the ingrowth of vital new bone.