Phase purity of β-tricalcium phosphate and hydroxyapatite

The phase purity of β-tricalcium phosphate bone graft substitute material is determined by X-ray diffraction (XRD). Data evaluation by state-of-the-art Rietveld refinement was adapted from ISO 13175-3 and ISO 13779-3 and is compliant with ASTM F1088.

Equipment:  Bruker D8 Advance diffractometer with CuKα radiation and a LynxEye XE energy dispersive linear detector / current release of the ICDD PDF-4+ structure database / BGMN and Profex Rietveld refinement software

Contact:  Nicola Döbelin +41 32 644-2041

Identification of crystalline main phases (XRD) (non-accredited service)

Crystalline main phases are identified in ceramic and metallic samples by comparing an X-ray diffraction pattern (XRD) with a crystal structure database. Depending on the complexity of the diffraction pattern, phases of less than ten weight percent can be identified.

Equipment:  Bruker D8 Advance diffractometer with CuKα radiation and a LynxEye XE energy dispersive linear detector / current release of the ICDD PDF-4+ structure database / Match! identification software

Contact:  Nicola Döbelin +41 32 644-2041

Residual moisture content

The residual moisture content is calculated from the weight loss after intense drying according to Ph. Eur. Monography 2.2.32. „Loss on drying“ 01/2008:20232.

Equipment:  Drying furnace Memmert Typ ULP 500 and UFP 500 / Precision scale Mettler Toledo AX205

Contact:  Nicola Döbelin +41 32 644-2041

Setting time and setting reaction temperature

This test setup determines the setting time and the maximum reaction temperature of exothermic cement reactions according to ASTM F451-99a (reapproved 2007).

Equipment:  Center 309 Data Logger with Thermocontrol TKI20/50FIM.K thermo couples

Contact:  Nicola Döbelin +41 32 644-2041

Identification and quantification of ceramic degradation products

This test determines the amount of dissolved material from ceramic products according to ISO 10993-14.

Equipment:  Climate chamber Feutron KPK 200 / Orbital shaker GFL Type 3017 / Agilent 7700x ICP MS

Contact:  Marc Bohner +41 32 644-2040

Cohesion of pastes and cements

In a specifically developed test setup we analyze the cohesion of pastes and cements in an aqueous environment. The result reveals how fast a paste dissolves or disintegrates in water. The setup can analyze paste volumes from 0.5 to 10 ml at room temperature.

Equipment:  Precision Scale Mettler-Toledo PR5002

Contact:  Nicola Döbelin +41 32 644-2041

Determination of the specific surface area of powders and porous solids

In the BET method (Brunauer, Emmet and Teller) we use gas adsorption to determine the specific surface of solids. The nitrogen adsorption at a tem­pe­ra­ture of liquid nitrogen is used as standard method.

Equipment:  Tristar Plus 3030, Micromeritics

Contact:  Marc Bohner +41 32 644-2040

Trace element analysis of calcium phosphates (ISO 13175-3, ASTM F1088, F1185 and F1581)

Calcium phosphate bone graft substitute materials are tested for heavy metals and impurity elements using inductively coupled plasma - mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). The analysis includes As, Cd, Hg, Pb, Bi, Sb, Sn, Ag, Cu, Mo, Fe and Cr contents along with a simultaneous screening for 50 additional impurity elements according to the maximum limits defined in ISO 13175-3, ASTM F1088, F1185 and F1581.

Equipment:  Agilent 7700x ICP-MS

Contact:  Christoph Stähli +41 32 644-2044

Dissolution testing of calcium phosphates (ISO 13175-3)

The dissolution properties of resorbable calcium phosphate bone graft substitute materials are determined in an in vitro dissolution test according to ISO 13175-3, which provides pH changes and Ca release in the incubation solution.

Equipment:  Temperature-controlled incubator shaker IKA® KS 4000i control / Agilent 7700x ICP-MS / Mettler Toledo MA235 pH meter

Contact:  Christoph Stähli +41 32 644-2044

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