Modelling the relationship between tensile strength and porosity in bioceramic scaffolds

Abstract

A model describing the relationship between tensile strength and total porosity in brittle open‐cell macroporous foams is developed and applied to silicate ceramic scaffolds produced by sponge replication and subsequent sinter‐crystallization. The tensile strength of the scaffolds decreased from 7.4 to 2.3 MPa as the total porosity increased from 0.40 to 0.79. The results of the model, which is based on the concepts of fracture mechanics, were in good agreement with the experimental data (R2 = 0.88), which supports the good predictive capability of the approach presented. In principle, this model could help biomaterials scientists not only to estimate the tensile strength of highly‐porous bioactive glass and ceramic scaffolds, which is often difficult to determine experimentally, but also to improve the rational design of porous bioceramics with customized properties.