Fabrication and Characterization of Nanostructured Mg-Doped Fluorapatite by Mechanical Aloying

Properties of hydroxyapatite (HA) or fluorapatite (FA), such as bioactivity, biocompatibility, solubility and adsorption properties can be tailored over a wide range by modifying the composition via ionic substitutions. The aim of this work was preparation and characterization of Mg-doped FA nanostructured powders. Mg-doped fluorapatite (FA) nanostructured powders with different Mg contents were prepared by mechanical alloying. The designated degree of substitution of Ca2+ by Mg2+ in the mixture was indicated by the x value in the general formula of Ca10−xMgx (PO4)6F2, where X= 0, 0.5, 1, 1.5 and 2. X-ray diffraction (XRD) and scanning electron microscopic (SEM) were used for characterization of obtained powders. Results indicate that Mg ions entered into the fluorapatite lattice and occupied Ca2+ sites. The incorporation of Mg ions into the fluorapatite caused the decrease of the lattice parameters. With increasing Mg content, the crystallinity of powders decreased while the degree of agglomeration of powders increased. The obtained powders had crystallite size about 42–60 nm.

Keywords:

fluorapatite , Magnesium , Nanostructure materials , mechanical alloying