Synthesis, characterization, mechanical and magnetic characteristics of Gd3+ /PO4 3 - substituted zircon for application in hard tissue replacements.

The study reports on the use of sol-gel technique to yield zircon type [Zr(1-0.1-x) GdxTi0.1 ] [(SiO4 )1-x (PO4 )x ] solid solution. Titanium has been used as a mineralizer to trigger zircon formation while equimolar concentrations of Gd3+ and PO4 3- were added to determine their accommodation limits in the zircon structure. The crystallization of t-ZrO2 as a dominant phase alongside the crystallization of m-ZrO2 and zircon were detected at 1200°C while their further annealing revealed the formation of zircon as a major phase at 1300°C. Heat treatment at 1400°C revealed the formation of zircon-type solid solution [Zr(1-0.1-x) Gdx Ti0.1 ][(SiO4 )1-x (PO4 )x ] comprising the accommodation of 10 mol.% of Gd3+ /PO4 3- at the zircon lattice. Beyond 10 mol.% of Gd3+ /PO4 3- , the crystallization of GdPO4 as a secondary phase is noticed. Structural analysis revealed the expansion of zircon lattice due to the simultaneous occupancy of Gd3+ /PO4 3- for the corresponding Zr4+ /SiO4 4- sites. The mechanical strength of single-phase zircon solid solution was higher in comparison to that of multiphase materials, namely in the presence of GdPO4 formed as a secondary phase in samples with added equimolar Gd3+ /PO4 3- contents beyond 10 mol.%. Nevertheless, the paramagnetic behavior of the samples demonstrated a steady surge as a function of enhanced Gd3+ content.

In situ formation, structural, mechanical and in vitro analysis of ZrO2/ZnFe2O4 composite with assorted composition ratios.

The investigation underline the in situ formation of ZrO2/ZnFe2O4 composites and the resultant structural, morphological, mechanical and magnetic properties. The characterization results ensured the crystallization of tetragonal ZrO2 (t-ZrO2) and ZnFe2O4 phases at 900 °C. Depending on Zn2+/Fe3+ content, the composite system revealed a gradual increment in the phase yield of ZnFe2O4. The significance of monoclinic ZrO2 (m-ZrO2) is also evident in all the systems at 900 °C; however, the incremental heat treatment to 1300 °C indicated its corresponding loss, thus indicating the reverse m- â†’ t-ZrO2 transition. The crystallization of ZnFe2O4 as a secondary phase in the t-ZrO2 matrix is also affirmed from the morphological analysis. Mechanical studies accomplished good uniformity in all the investigated compositions despite the variation in the phase content of ZnFe2O4 in composite system. All the t-ZrO2/ZnFe2O4 composites ensured strong ferrimagnetic features and moreover better biocompatibility and non-toxicity characteristics were displayed from in vitro tests.