HYDROXYAPATITE SPHERES WITH CONTROLLED POROSITY FOR EYE BALL PROSTHESIS: PROCESSING AND CHARACTERIZATION

E. Rivera-Munoz (1), J. R. Diaz (1), J. Rodriguez (1), W. Brostow (1,2), V. M. Castano (1,2)
 
(1) Instituto de Fisica, Universidad Nacional Autonoma de Mexico,
Apdo. Postal 1-1010, Quertaro, 76000, Mexico
(2) Department of Materials Science and Chemistry,
University of North Texas, Denton, TX 76203-5310, USA
meneses@servidor.unam.mx

ABSTRACT

Porous hydroxyapatite spheres were prepared by a modified gelcasting method producing a ceramic prosthesis with controlled porosity. The spheres are approximately 2.2 cm in diameter with a relatively homogeneous pore size distribution from 10 to 40 um in diameter. The samples were characterized by X-ray powder diffractometry (XRD) and Fourier transform infra-red spectroscopy (FTIR) to identify the phases both prior to and after the gelcasting process. Surface morphology analysis and porosity evaluations were performed with scanning electron microscopy (SEM), while surface area measurements were carried out by the BET technique.

 

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