Effect of Sintering Atmosphere on Phase Evolution of Hydroxyapatite Nanocomposite Powders

In the present work, pure hydroxyapatite, hydroxyapatite -20 wt% alumina and hydroxyapatite -20 wt% titanium mixtures were pressed and sintered in air, moist, and reduction atmospheres at 1200oC for 2 h. XRD investigations of sintered samples showed that, pure hydroxyapatite is stable in all three atmospheres. But, moist and reduction atmospheres were preferred to suppress the hydroxyapatite decomposition in hydroxyapatite -alumina and hydroxyapatite –titanium nanocomposites, respectively.