Bioceramics have been used as bone reconstruction materials in the last decades, hydroxyapatite being one of the most used for this purpose. However, the hydroxyapatite mechanical strength is not so high when compared to other bioceramics. This work aimed on characterizing physically and mechanically HA-TiO2 composites. Samples were prepared by the polymeric sponge method with 70% - 30% wt., 60% - 40% wt. and 50% - 50% wt. of HA - TiO2, calcined at 550ºC for sponge burning out and sintered at 1250 ºC, 1300 ºC and 1350 ºC. The samples were submitted to mechanical essays of compression and Vickers hardness and to physical essays of water absorption, apparent density, burning linear retraction and apparent density. Results showed relatively better than those of pure hydroxyapatite and they are in agreement with the literature.
bioceramic composites; physical mechanical characterization; bone reconstruction
