Effect of CaF2 on densification and properties of hydroxyapatite-zirconia composites for biomedical applications

Hydroxyapatite (HA) composites with zirconia (ZrO2) up to 40 vol% were fabricated with the addition of CaF2. The sinterability of the composites was found to be enhanced markedly by the addition of small amounts of CaF2 (< 5 vol%). Decomposition of HA to beta-TCP was suppressed due to the substitution of F- for OH-, consequently forming fluor-hydroxyapatite (FHA) solid solution. This suppression of decomposition allowed the production of a fully dense body, which retained both high flexural strength and fracture toughness. The osteoblast-like cell (MG63) response to these F- ion-containing composites displayed comparable cell viability to pure-HA by in vitro proliferation test.