Magnesia Partially Stabilized Zirconia/Hydroxyapatite Biocomposites: Structural, Morphological and Microhardness Properties

Hydroxyapatite (HAP) is the most widely accepted biomaterial for repairing bone tissue defects, demonstrating excellent biocompatibility and bioactivity that promote new bone formation. Zirconia (ZrO<sub>2</sub>), known for its strength and fracture toughness, is commonly used to reinfor...

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Main Authors: Liliana Bizo, Adriana-Liana Bot, Marieta Mureșan-Pop, Lucian Barbu-Tudoran, Claudia Andreea Cojan, Réka Barabás
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2025-06-01
Series:Crystals
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Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4352/15/7/608
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author Liliana Bizo
Adriana-Liana Bot
Marieta Mureșan-Pop
Lucian Barbu-Tudoran
Claudia Andreea Cojan
Réka Barabás
author_facet Liliana Bizo
Adriana-Liana Bot
Marieta Mureșan-Pop
Lucian Barbu-Tudoran
Claudia Andreea Cojan
Réka Barabás
author_sort Liliana Bizo
collection DOAJ
description Hydroxyapatite (HAP) is the most widely accepted biomaterial for repairing bone tissue defects, demonstrating excellent biocompatibility and bioactivity that promote new bone formation. Zirconia (ZrO<sub>2</sub>), known for its strength and fracture toughness, is commonly used to reinforce ceramics. In this study, magnesium oxide (MgO) served as a stabilizer for zirconia, resulting in magnesia partially stabilized zirconia (Mg-PSZ). Both Mg-PSZ and HAP were synthesized via coprecipitation and mixed in specific ratios to create composites through a ceramic method involving mixing, compaction, and sintering at 1100 °C. The samples were characterized using techniques such as X-ray powder diffraction (XRPD), Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), and scanning electron microscopy/energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (SEM/EDS). Structural analyses confirmed the presence of both monoclinic and tetragonal zirconia phases. Besides, the increased wt.% HAP in the composites produced distinct peaks for hexagonal HAP. Crystallite sizes ranged from 27.45 nm to 31.5 nm, and surface morphology was homogeneous with small pores. Elements such as calcium, phosphorus, magnesium, zirconium, and oxygen were detected in all samples. This research also examined microhardness changes in the materials. The findings revealed enhancement in microhardness for the biocomposite with higher zirconia content, 90Mg-PSZ/10HAP sample, with the smallest average pore size, highlighting its potential for biomedical applications.
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spelling doaj-art-2bc9bad49d6241c5998f364cf97ff9832025-08-20T03:08:10ZengMDPI AGCrystals2073-43522025-06-0115760810.3390/cryst15070608Magnesia Partially Stabilized Zirconia/Hydroxyapatite Biocomposites: Structural, Morphological and Microhardness PropertiesLiliana Bizo0Adriana-Liana Bot1Marieta Mureșan-Pop2Lucian Barbu-Tudoran3Claudia Andreea Cojan4Réka Barabás5Department of Chemical Engineering, Faculty of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Babeş-Bolyai University, 11 Arany János Str., 400028 Cluj-Napoca, RomaniaDepartment of Chemical Engineering, Faculty of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Babeş-Bolyai University, 11 Arany János Str., 400028 Cluj-Napoca, RomaniaNanostructured Materials and Bio-Nano-Interfaces Center, Interdisciplinary Research Institute in Bio-Nano-Sciences, Babeş-Bolyai University, 42 Treboniu Laurian Str., 400271 Cluj-Napoca, RomaniaElectron Microscopy Center, Faculty of Biology and Geology, Babeș-Bolyai University, 5-7 Clinicilor Street, 400006 Cluj-Napoca, RomaniaDepartment of Chemical Engineering, Faculty of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Babeş-Bolyai University, 11 Arany János Str., 400028 Cluj-Napoca, RomaniaDepartment of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering of Hungarian Line of Study, Faculty of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Babeş-Bolyai University, 11 Arany János Str., 400028 Cluj-Napoca, RomaniaHydroxyapatite (HAP) is the most widely accepted biomaterial for repairing bone tissue defects, demonstrating excellent biocompatibility and bioactivity that promote new bone formation. Zirconia (ZrO<sub>2</sub>), known for its strength and fracture toughness, is commonly used to reinforce ceramics. In this study, magnesium oxide (MgO) served as a stabilizer for zirconia, resulting in magnesia partially stabilized zirconia (Mg-PSZ). Both Mg-PSZ and HAP were synthesized via coprecipitation and mixed in specific ratios to create composites through a ceramic method involving mixing, compaction, and sintering at 1100 °C. The samples were characterized using techniques such as X-ray powder diffraction (XRPD), Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), and scanning electron microscopy/energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (SEM/EDS). Structural analyses confirmed the presence of both monoclinic and tetragonal zirconia phases. Besides, the increased wt.% HAP in the composites produced distinct peaks for hexagonal HAP. Crystallite sizes ranged from 27.45 nm to 31.5 nm, and surface morphology was homogeneous with small pores. Elements such as calcium, phosphorus, magnesium, zirconium, and oxygen were detected in all samples. This research also examined microhardness changes in the materials. The findings revealed enhancement in microhardness for the biocomposite with higher zirconia content, 90Mg-PSZ/10HAP sample, with the smallest average pore size, highlighting its potential for biomedical applications.https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4352/15/7/608zirconiahydroxyapatitebiocompositesstructural propertiesmorphological propertiesVickers microhardness
spellingShingle Liliana Bizo
Adriana-Liana Bot
Marieta Mureșan-Pop
Lucian Barbu-Tudoran
Claudia Andreea Cojan
Réka Barabás
Magnesia Partially Stabilized Zirconia/Hydroxyapatite Biocomposites: Structural, Morphological and Microhardness Properties
Crystals
zirconia
hydroxyapatite
biocomposites
structural properties
morphological properties
Vickers microhardness
title Magnesia Partially Stabilized Zirconia/Hydroxyapatite Biocomposites: Structural, Morphological and Microhardness Properties
title_full Magnesia Partially Stabilized Zirconia/Hydroxyapatite Biocomposites: Structural, Morphological and Microhardness Properties
title_fullStr Magnesia Partially Stabilized Zirconia/Hydroxyapatite Biocomposites: Structural, Morphological and Microhardness Properties
title_full_unstemmed Magnesia Partially Stabilized Zirconia/Hydroxyapatite Biocomposites: Structural, Morphological and Microhardness Properties
title_short Magnesia Partially Stabilized Zirconia/Hydroxyapatite Biocomposites: Structural, Morphological and Microhardness Properties
title_sort magnesia partially stabilized zirconia hydroxyapatite biocomposites structural morphological and microhardness properties
topic zirconia
hydroxyapatite
biocomposites
structural properties
morphological properties
Vickers microhardness
url https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4352/15/7/608
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AT marietamuresanpop magnesiapartiallystabilizedzirconiahydroxyapatitebiocompositesstructuralmorphologicalandmicrohardnessproperties
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