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Lath‐like Structure of β‐Tricalcium Phosphate in Orthopedic Implants
Author(s) -
Dai Honglian,
Li Shipu,
Leng Yang
Publication year - 2005
Publication title -
journal of the american ceramic society
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.9
H-Index - 196
eISSN - 1551-2916
pISSN - 0002-7820
DOI - 10.1111/j.1551-2916.2005.00301.x
Subject(s) - lath , materials science , transmission electron microscopy , scanning electron microscope , composite material , porosity , morphology (biology) , high resolution transmission electron microscopy , microstructure , crystallography , nanotechnology , chemistry , biology , genetics , martensite
The lath‐like β‐tricalcium phosphate (β‐TCP) in the sintered porous β‐TCP implants was revealed by transmission electron microscope (TEM). Samples of sintered porous β‐TCP implants were extracted from rabbit tibia after implanted for 1–6 months. Although the majority of sintered β‐TCP particles are in a granular shape, the lath‐like structures of implants are observed occasionally. The length of laths is on the order of 1 μm, while the thickness of laths is on the order of 10 nm. The X‐ray energy dispersive spectroscopy and the electron diffraction indicate that the lath‐like material is β‐TCP with its rhombohedral () plane parallel to the longitudinal direction of laths. High resolution TEM imaging also confirms the finding of electron diffraction. This abnormal morphology of β‐TCP have raised our attention, even though its formation mechanism and effects on osseointegration is not yet certain.