Development of microporous scaffolds through slip casting of solution combustion derived nano hydroxyapatite

HAp powder with crystallite and particle sizes in the nanorange was prepared by a solution combustion method using glycine as fuel. The powders were characterized for phase and functional group, crystallite size, particle size and agglomerate size, morphology, surface area and sericin protein adhesion. The powder had a crystallite size in the range of 10–20 nm, a particle size in the range of 100–200 nm and a surface area of 10–16 m2/g. The nanosized HAp powder was mixed with de-ionized water to prepare a slurry with solid loading in the range of 20–40 vol.-%, which was homogenized by ball milling for 16–20 h and then cast in to plaster moulds. The slip cast samples sintered at 1250°C for 1 h were found ta have a bulk density in the range of 50–78%, an apparent porosity of 13–43% and a micropore size in the range of 0.5–5.0 µm. The three-point flexural strength and compressive strength values were correlated to the porosity of sintered HAp samples