Preparation and compressive strength of calcium phosphate based cement dispersed with polycrystalline ceria doped tetragonal zirconia

Abstract

The preparation and strength of a calcium phosphate based cement with and without dispersed particles of polycrystalline 12 mol-%CeO₂ doped tetragonal zirconia (12Ce–TZP) were investigated. A cement mixture of α-tricalcium phosphate (α-Ca₃ (PO₄ )₂ ) and tetracalcium phosphate (Ca₄ (PO₄ )₂O) with a Ca/P ratio of 1·67 transformed completely to hydroxyapatite after curing under water for 7 d at 38°C. The compressive strength of a cement without dispersed 12Ce–TZP particles cured for 4 d at 38°C was ∼11·1 MPa but increased to ∼16 MPa by dispersing 3 wt-%12Ce–TZP particles, of average diameter 40 μm, which were treated in 10M NaOH and/or 0·01M Ca₅ (PO₄ )₂ gel solutions prior to dispersion.