MICROSCOPY OF CHARACTERIZATION POROUS HYDROXYAPATITE/ALUMINA (HA/AL2O3) COMPOSITE USING IRRADIATED BINDER

R. Mustaffa* and R. Roslan

Abstract

MICROSCOPY OF CHARACTERIZATION POROUS HYDROXYAPATITE/ALUMINA (HA/AL₂O₃) COMPOSITE USING IRRADIATED BINDER

1. Mustaffa and R. Roslan

Materials Technology Group (MTEG), Industrial Technology Division (BTI), Malaysia Nuclear Agency, Bangi, 43000 Kajang,

Selangor D.E.

ABSTRACT

Fabrication of porous Hydroxyapetite/Al₂O₃ composite using irradiated binder solution to enhance the properties of porous HA. The binder solution was prepared by the mixture of 4% polyvinyl alcohol and 3% starch solution. In this study, the gamma source from Co-60 is used. The characterization on the binder solution and porous sample was done to study and to compare the viscosity and the physicochemical changes for the sample. For the binder solution characterization, the viscosity testing was done. The result shows that the solution became thicker and forms the microscopic gel at high dose. The chemical characterization on porous Hydroxyapetite includes Fourier Transmission Infra-red Spectroscopy (FT-IR), Chemical Analysis EDAX, X-ray Diffraction (XRD) and Inductive Couple Plasma- Mass Spectrometry (ICP-MS). While for the physical analysis, Density Testing, Scanning Electron Microscopy Analysis (SEM) and Compression Testing were done. The chemical analysis show that the sample fabricated using irradiated binder solution did not give any chemical properties changes compared to the sample fabricated using non-irradiated binder solution. For the physical analysis, the sample fabricated using irradiated binder solution gives much higher maximum compression strength compared to the sample fabricated using non-irradiated binder solution. Scanning Electron Microscopy analysis (SEM) shows that the sample fabricated using irradiated binder solution have a better surface structure compared to the sample fabricated using non-irradiated binder solution.

Keywords: HA composite Al2O3, irradiated binder, Porous and properties