Potato starch consolidation of aqueous HA suspension

The influence of the addition of different amount of native potato starch on both the rheological properties and consolidation of the dispersed hydroxyapatite powder in aqueous media were thoroughly investigated. The amount of native potato starch addition has ranged from 10 to 40vol.%. The results indicated that the rheological properties of the hydroxyapatite suspension were improved with addition of potato starch. The potato starch and HA particulates were found to be homogeneously distributed through SEM investigation. The relative density and the compressive strength of the consolidated slurries were increased with the increase of the starch amount till 30vol.% addition and then decreased thereafter. Porous 3D-HA sample would produce from the sintering of green sample via consolidation technique at 1300°C for 2h. The porous sample was found to possess apparent porosity of about 50% with sufficient compressive strength.