Phase analysis of sintered β -TCP scaffolds was conducted using X-ray diffraction (XRD) with a Philips PW 3040/00 Xpert MPD system (Philips, Eindhoven, The Netherlands) with CuKα radiation and a Ni filter. Samples were scanned over a range of 20 and 60 degrees at a step size of 0.02 degree and count time of 0.5s per step. Phase percentage of α-TCP in the sintered scaffolds was determined from the relative intensity ratio of the corresponding major phases using the following relationship:44 , 11 (link)
Microstructures of sintered samples were taken by using a field-emission scanning electron microscope (FESEM) (FEI Inc., Hillsboro, OR, USA). Pore size was estimated from those images. Grain size was calculated via mean lineal intercept length method per ASTM Standard E 112–88. Back scattered SEM images were used for PCL coating on β-TCP. Apparent density of scaffolds was measured using Archimedes’ principle. Compressive strength was measured using a screw-driven universal testing machine (AG-IS, Shimadzu, Japan) with a constant crosshead speed of 0.33 mm/min and a load cell of 50 KN. Mechanical data was presented as mean ± standard deviation based on five samples.
Microstructures of sintered samples were taken by using a field-emission scanning electron microscope (FESEM) (FEI Inc., Hillsboro, OR, USA). Pore size was estimated from those images. Grain size was calculated via mean lineal intercept length method per ASTM Standard E 112–88. Back scattered SEM images were used for PCL coating on β-TCP. Apparent density of scaffolds was measured using Archimedes’ principle. Compressive strength was measured using a screw-driven universal testing machine (AG-IS, Shimadzu, Japan) with a constant crosshead speed of 0.33 mm/min and a load cell of 50 KN. Mechanical data was presented as mean ± standard deviation based on five samples.
