A mixture of B-tricalcium phosphate (BTCP) made from green mussel shells and polyacrylic acid (PAA) solution was successfully prepared via a setting reaction and reinforced by a freeze-drying process. The freeze-drying process is a popular method for producing bone substitute materials with porous structures. The sublimation process in freeze-drying eliminates the remaining water or solvent leaving the pores in the materials. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the effect of the freeze-drying method on the porosity and mechanical strength of a BTCP/PAA composite block. Initially, a mixture of BTCP powder with PAA solution was put inside a mold, frozen at low temperature, and dried to obtain a composite block. As a control, the same mixture was stored at 37 C in an incubator without the freeze-drying process. Porosity and diametral tensile strength (DTS) were investigated and compared with the control samples obtained without the freeze-drying process. Freeze-dried samples had lower porosity (26.97 ± 2.64%) and higher DTS (11.76 ± 1.59 MPa) than the control sample (porosity: 37.47 ± 4.49%; DTS: 6.19 ± 1.85 MPa). In conclusion, the freeze-drying process decreased the porosity of the BTCP/PAA composite block and increased the mechanical strength in terms of DTS value.
Oleh :
Tansza Permata Setiana Putri
