Hydroxyapatite (HA) is a widely studied biomaterial for its similar chemical composition to bone and its osteoconductive properties. The crystal structure of HA is flexible, allowing for a wide range of substitutions which can alter bioactivity, biodegradation, and mechanical properties of the substituted apatite. The thermal stability of a substituted apatite is an indication of its biodegradation in vivo. In this study, we investigated the thermal stability and mechanical properties of manganese-substituted hydroxyapatite (MnHA) as it is reported that manganese can enhance cell attachment compared to pure HA. Pure HA and MnHA pellets were sintered over the following temperature ranges: 900 to 1300 °C and 700 to 1300 °C respectively. The sintered pellets were characterized via density measurements, mechanical testing, X-ray diffraction, and field emission electron microscopy. It was found that MnHA was less stable than HA decomposing around 800 °C compared to 1200 °C for HA. The flexural strength of MnHA was weaker than HA due to the decomposition of MnHA at a significantly lower temperature of 800 °C compared to 1100 °C for HA. The low thermal stability of MnHA suggests that a faster in vivo dissolution rate compared to pure HA is expected.
Keywords: hydroxyapatite; ion substitution; sintering behavior.