Towards computer-aided design of bio-materials by example of micro-elasticity of porous ceramic baghdadite (Ca3ZrSi2O9)

Abstract

Microstructure-elasticity relations for bone tissue engineering scaolds are key to rationally based biomaterial design. As a contribution, we here report comprehensive length measuring, weighing, and ultrasonic tests at 0.1 MHz frequency, on porous baghdadite scaolds. The resulting porosity-stiness relations further con rm a formerly detected, micromechanically explained, general relationship for a great variety of different polycrystals (Fritsch et al., 2013), which also allows for estimating the zero-porosity case, i.e. the Young's modulus and Poisson's ratio of pure (dense) baghdadite. These estimates were impressively con rmed by a physically and statistically independent nanoindentation campaign comprising some 1750 indents. Consequently, we can present a remarkably complete picture of porous baghdadite elasticity across a wide range of porosities, and, thanks to the micromechanical understanding, reaching out beyond classical elasticity, towards poroelastic properties, quantifying the eect of pore pressure on the material system behaviour.

Microstructure-elasticity relations for bone tissue engineering scaolds are key to rationally based biomaterial design. As a contribution, we here report comprehensive length measuring, weighing, and ultrasonic tests at 0.1 MHz frequency, on porous baghdadite scaolds. The resulting porosity-stiness relations further con rm a formerly detected, micromechanically explained, general relationship for a great variety of different polycrystals (Fritsch et al., 2013), which also allows for estimating the zero-porosity case, i.e. the Young's modulus and Poisson's ratio of pure (dense) baghdadite. These estimates were impressively con rmed by a physically and statistically independent nanoindentation campaign comprising some 1750 indents. Consequently, we can present a remarkably complete picture of porous baghdadite elasticity across a wide range of porosities, and, thanks to the micromechanical understanding, reaching out beyond classical elasticity, towards poroelastic properties, quantifying the eect of pore pressure on the material system behaviour.