ABSTRACT

The titanium-hydroxyapatite (Ti-HA) composite is promising for dental use due to Ti’s strength and corrosion resistance, and HA’s biocompatibility. However, high-temperature sintering can oxidise Ti and decompose HA. This study explores using bioactive glass (BG) as a sintering aid to preserve these properties while lowering sintering temperatures. The research objective is to compare the variations caused by sintering temperature Ti-HA incorporating 45S5 BG (synthesised and commercially available) in terms of chemical and physical properties. The synthesis of 45S5 BG was done via melt-quench method while the Ti-HA and Ti-HA-BG composites via powder metallurgy with a ratio of 50:50 and 45:45:10 in weight percentages (wt.%), respectively. Four temperature variations (900°C, 1,000°C, 1,100°C and 1,200°C) were applied during atmospheric furnace sintering. Chemical analysis utilised X-ray diffractometry (XRD) and Fourier Transform Infrared Reflectance (FTIR), while physical analysis examined density and volumetric change. XRD confirmed HA was detected in the samples of Ti-HA system with the incorporation of 45S5 BG, particularly from 900°C–1,000°C for commercial BG and only at 900°C for synthesised BG composites. However, HA was not detected in the Ti-HA system without BG. Physical analysis indicated that densities and volumetric expansion of the composites were not significantly influenced by the sample batch or sintering temperature. Overall, the fabrication of 45S5 BG powder and its incorporation into the Ti-HA composite demonstrated the potential of 45S5 BG as a viable sintering aid. Based on XRD results, Ti-HA composite samples incorporated with commercial BG and sintered at 900°C exhibited optimal outcomes. 

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