Phase Analysis and Thermal Stability of Hot Isostatically Pressed Zirconia-Hydroxyapatite Composites

Composites of zirconia and hydroxyapatite (OHAp) have been processed via hot isostatic pressing (HIP) or sintering in air. When the composites were sintered in air at a temperature of 950°C, decomposition of the OHAp to tricalcium phosphate occurred. Using the HIP technique, composites without any detectable degradation of the OHAp phase were produced at 1200°C. The reactivity between zirconia and OHAp was dependent on both the amount of water lost from OHAp and the geometry of the interaction. The phase composition of the materials prepared was evaluated from their powder X‐ray diffraction patterns, and their microstructures were studied via electron microscopy.