Effect of Temperature on Solid-State Reaction of Prawn Shell-Derived Phase-Pure β-Tricalcium Phosphate

Over the past three decades, bioresorbable ceramics such as beta-tricalcium phosphate (beta-TCP)-based porous scaffolds have been extensively studied. beta-TCP-based scaffolds or cements for bone tissue applications have proved to be an outstanding alternative to repair and regenerate bone tissue defects caused by trauma or injury. In this study, an investigation on submicron beta-TCP powders derived from prawn shell (Fenneropenaeus indicus, a source of marine biowaste) via solid-state reaction approach was carried out, which has calcite (CaCO3) in its exoskeleton (nonedible). The prawn shell-derived beta-TCP can be prepared conventionally with dicalcium phosphate (CaHPO4) at different temperatures 900, 1000, 1100, and 1200 degrees C. The EDX spectra detect the Ca:P ratio of 1.5 confirming the formation of pure beta-TCP at 1100 degrees C, which is in complete agreement with theoretical ratio. X-ray diffraction pattern revealed the phase-pure crystalline rhombohedral crystal structure of beta-TCP with an average crystallite size of similar to 25.8 nm, prepared at 1100 degrees C. The field emission scanning electron microscopy images showed a homogeneous distribution of beta-TCP powders with an average grain size of 3.07 mu m at 1100 degrees C. Furthermore, Raman spectroscopy and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy confirm the characteristics peaks of beta-TCP. Differential scanning calorimetry and thermogravimetric analysis are performed to study the thermal behavior of the initial precursors mixture to synthesize beta-TCP. beta-TCP scaffolds sintered at 1100(degrees)C exhibited compressive strength of similar to 6.2 MPa, for which Ca/P ratio is 1.51. Biodegradation study conducted on beta-TCP scaffolds sintered at 1100(degrees)C has shown slow degradation rate up to 5 days. Therefore, the prawn shell-derived beta-TCP has physical and morphological properties which projects it as a promising implantable biomaterial for synthetic bone graft substitutes.