Preparing diopside nanoparticle scaffolds via space holder method: Simulation of the compressive strength and porosity. (August 2017)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Abdellahi, Majid; Najafinezhad, Aliakbar; Ghayour, Hamid; Saber-Samandari, Saeed; Khandan, Amirsalar
• Is Part Of: Journal of the mechanical behavior of biomedical materials. Volume 72(2017)
• Page Start: 171
• Page End: 181
• Publication Date: 2017-08
• Subjects: Diopside -- Scaffold -- Space holder -- Compressive strength -- Porosity; Biomedical materials -- Periodicals; Biomedical materials -- Mechanical properties -- Periodicals; Biomedical materials; Biomedical materials -- Mechanical properties; Periodicals; Electronic journals; 610.28
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jmbbm.2017.05.004
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1751-6161

Abstract

Abstract: In the present study, diopside nanopowders were prepared via mechanical milling with eggshell as the calcium source. The space holder method (compaction of ceramic powder and spacer) as one of the most important methods to produce ceramic/metal scaffolds was used to produce diopside scaffolds. For the first time, the effect of the spacer size on mechanical properties and porosity of the obtained scaffolds was experimentally discussed. According to the results obtained, the NaCl particles (as the spacer) with the size of 400–600 µm maintained their original spherical shape during the compaction and sintering processes. As a new work, the most important parameters including the spacer type, spacer concentration, spacer size, and applied pressure were considered, and their effects on mechanical properties and porosity of diopside scaffolds were simulated. Gene Expression Programming (GEP), as one of the most branches of the artificial intelligence, was used for simulation process. By using the GEP, two equations were introduced to predict the compressive strength and porosity of the obtained scaffolds with the lowest error values. The 3D diagrams extracted from the model were used to evaluate the combined effect of the process parameters on the compressive strength and porosity of the scaffolds. The GEP model presented in this work has a very low level of error and a high level of the squared regression for predicting the compressive strength and porosity of diopside scaffolds. Graphical abstract: Highlights: The present study reported a simple method to produce diopside nanopowders. The SH method was used to produce diopside scaffolds. The ideal structure was related to the scaffolds with the spacer size of 420–600 µm. A compressive strength of 1.43 MPa at total and interconnected porosities of 81 and 84% was achieved. Model showed the most important parameter affecting the scaffolds properties was spacer type.