ABSTRACT
A titanium-based biocomposite was prepared from titanium hydrate powder and calcium nitrate for dental implant applications. The minor precursor was added in the major precursor of titanium hydrate in the concentration of 8% in volume. Titanium hydrate was added in the calcium nitrate solution, previously dissolved by mechanical agitation in distilled water, and then mixed/homogenized by ultrasound. The mixture was dried in a rotating evaporator, pressed at 600 MPa at room temperature and vacuum sintered at 1200 oC during 2 hours. It was analyzed the microstructure and phases formed, the mechanical properties, the surface roughness, the open porosity, the surface wetness and cytotoxicity of the materials. The phases formed in the biocomposite after sintering were α-Ti and CaTiO3. The compressive strength, Young modulus (E) and contact angle of the biocomposite significantly decreased compared to the sintered titanium hydrate. The average compressive strength of the titanium hydrate was 1794,67 MPa and of the biocomposite was 481,36 MPa. The Young modulus and contact angle of the titanium hydrate and of the biocomposite were approximately 112 GPa and 94 degree, and 75 GPa and 83 degree, respectively. The surface roughness was of the same order among the materials and found to be between 1.4 and 1.5 µm (Ra), and 1.4 and 1.9 µm (Ra and Sa), measured with a roughmeter and with a laser confocal microscope, respectively. The open porosity of the sintered biocomposite was approximately three times higher than that of sintered titanium hydrate. The viability cell percentage of the biocomposite was higher than that of negative control or sintered titanium hydrate.
Keywords:
titanium; calcium nitrate; biocomposite; dental implants
