Weak, magnetic-field-assisted, 3D printing for bioceramics

The resulting microstructure and properties of hydroxyapatite bioceramics with biomimetic structures have been investigated.

A magnetic-field-assisted 3D printing device has been developed for the preparation of bioceramics at Shaanxi University of Science and Technology, China.

Hydroxyapatite (HA) is a primary inorganic component of hard tissues, such as bone and teeth, and is widely used in repairing bone defects, but it is not suitable for load-bearing implants due to poor mechanical performance, particularly insufficient fracture toughness.

When an appropriate magnetic field (58mT - 116mT) is applied in 3D printing, HA whiskers are aligned under a magnetic torque.

The resulting Bouligand structural HA bioceramics are reported as achieving a combination of excellent strength and toughness comparable to that of cortical bone.

A paper from the team describes the oriented and Bouligand structural HA bioceramics as showing excellent mechanical performance and considerable absorption capacity in synthetic blood.

The team published their work in the Journal of Advanced Ceramics.

Further research will consider the relationship between grains, grain magnetism and magnetic field, and the relationship between microstructure and mechanical properties.