Conventionally Sintered Hydroxyapatite–Barium Titanate Piezo-Biocomposites

The central goal of this initial effort is to develop and characterize distinctive piezo-biocomposites as load-bearing orthopedic implants. The motivation is derived from the fact that mammalian bone is a piezoelectric material and this property is helpful in the natural healing of fractured bone. We have employed a cost-effective and industrially viable technique—conventional sintering to consolidate specific compositions of hydroxyapatite (HA) and barium titanate (BT). HA is the primary mineral constituent of mammalian bone but is not piezoelectric. On the contrary, BT is well known for its piezoelectric properties. Their combination creates piezo-biocomposites. The sintering is reactive in nature as BT decomposes into several compounds. Average grain sizes of piezo-biocomposites lie in the range of 1.75–1.9 µm. Interestingly, 15% compressive strength enhancement is noted in the case of HA-40 wt% BT as compared to HA. In vitro examinations reveal favorable bioactivity and biocompatible nature of the composites. These results show that conventionally sintered HA-BT piezo-biocomposites can qualify as candidate materials for load-bearing implants at affordable prices.