Effect of MgO addition on the sinterability, mechanical properties and biological cell activities of sintered silicon-substituted hydroxyapatite

The effect of 1 wt% magnesium oxide (MgO) as sintering additive on the sintering behaviour, microstructure, mechanical properties and cell activities of 0.4 and 1.6 wt% silicon-substituted hydroxyapatite (MgO-0.4Si-HA and MgO-1.6Si-HA) was investigated. The powders were synthesized by the wet-chemical neutralization method and the compacts were pressureless sintered in air between 1150 and 1250 °C for 2 h. The results showed that MgO-0.4Si-HA...