Novel method to produce β-TCP scaffolds

The production of ceramic scaffolds by a novel method was reported in this work. The method comprised the mixture of colloidal silica and beta-tricalcium phosphate (beta-TCP) powder, where paraffin microspheres were further added to provide the porosity in the scaffold after firing. Thermo-gravimetric analysis showed that the paraffin was completely degraded before 550 degrees C, where the heat treatment at 1100 degrees C was enough to remove the paraffin and provide porosity and mechanical strength. The scaffold had an open porosity, but with poor pore interconnection. The density of the scaffold was 1.11 +/- 0.03 g/cm(3) with a porosity of 64.98 +/- 1.1%, and the compression strength was 5.02 +/- 1.2 MPa. (C) 2010 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.