Australian coral as a biomaterial: Characteristics

In order to produce effective implants, the materials used must be biocompa tible. Hydroxyapatite (HAp) is a bioactive material similar to the mineral component of teeth and bone which is often used for orbital implants and bo ne graft applications. HAp can be manufactured from corals via hydrothermal conversion. Coral is particularly useful as a starting material for hydrox yapatite production because of its porous nature. When a porous structure i s used tissue ingrowth can occur readily and hence an excellent mechanical bond can be achieved. A large pore size and a high degree of pore interconn ections are desirable implant properties. In the present paper a comparison of the properties of four different species of Australian coral has been m ade to determine the most favourable species to use as a starting material for hydrothermal conversion.