Button of hydroxyapatite composite for craniotomy flap fixation: Fabrication and mechanical properties

Abstract

© 2020 Trans Tech Publications Ltd, Switzerland. This paper deals with the development of button made from a hydroxyapatite (HA) and bioglass composite. The HA powder derived from the bovine bone were added 2.5 and 5 wt% of P2O5-CaO-Na2O-bases glass and subsequently sintered at 1200 - 1350 C to form the HA ceramics. It was observed that the densest HA ceramic could be achieved for the sample composed of hydroxyapatite with the addition of 5 wt% of bioglass and sintered at 1300C, resulting in the maximum value of bending strength of about 77 MPa, which ensured the use in load bearing applications of this HA ceramic. The HA and 5 wt% bioglass composite is designed as a button for reattach the bone flap after a craniotomy procedure. Each device is comprised of an inner plate and an outer plate. The fabrication processing was used the powder compression and then sintering at 1300 C for 3 h. The button have fracture toughness (K1C) values of 1.3 0.1 MPa.m1/2 and bending strength of 65.7 3.8 MPa. The liquid phase sintering of this sample contributed to the high mechanical properties that can be use as craniotomy flap fixation.