Preparation of high-strength calcium phosphate ceramics with low modulus of elasticity containing beta-Ca(PO3)(2) fibers

Novel calcium phosphate ceramics were fabricated by hot-pressing fibrous products extracted from crystallized products of calcium ultraphosphate glasses by aqueous leaching, The ceramics mere dense materials with a relative density of >95%; these ceramics were composite materials that consisted of beta-Ca(PO3)(2) fibrous crystals with CaO-P2O5 glass, which was formed during hot pressing, as the matrix phase, These ceramics showed a high bending strength of 150-220 MPa and a low Young's modulus of 30-60 GPa. The high toughness contributed to the high strength, with fiber pull-out and crack deflection observed as the primary toughening mechanism.