Fabrication and Characterization of Functional Gradient Ceramic Bone Substitutes

Recently, highly porous bone substitutes, which have interconnected open pore structure, have been focused on improving their mechanical properties and modifying their functions. Especially, it is highly required to develop functional gradient structured bone substitute which is available for controlling their material properties such as bioresorption rate and elastic modulus. Porous $ZrO_2$ scaffold was fabricated by the sponge replica method using PU sponge. After 3 times of dip coating and the subsequent oven drying, burning out and microwave sintering were carried out. Various $ZrO_2$-BCP powder mixtures were prepared depending on the ratio and coated on the $ZrO_2$ scaffold by dip coating process. X-ray diffraction analysis was performed to characterize the phase identification of the scaffolds. Microstructures of the bone substitutes were observed using scanning electron microscopy.