Microwave Sintering of Biomaterials: Advances in Processing for Biomedical Applications
摘要
Microwave-assisted material processing, an unconventional manufacturing technique, is widely explored for processing engineering materials, such as high-temperature ceramics and metals, as well as composites based on them. In processing of ceramics, it is predominantly used by the ceramic industry for the manufacture of different electronic devices (e.g., capacitors), apart from being used as hard tissues and porous medical devices/products by the medical industry. Shorter processing times, lower energy consumption, and eco-friendliness, together with enhanced properties of the product, make this technique being much sought after worldwide by researchers as well as manufacturers in the realm of materials for biomedical applications. These attractive characteristics, as well as advantages, make this technique more predominantly used by the healthcare sector. Over the years, research in diverse areas of the processing of bioceramics and biocomposites has been carried out worldwide to achieve improved properties and performance. In particular, microwave sintering is used to manufacture artificial biomaterials for dental and orthopedic implants. Microwave sintering can also be used to manufacture porous structures for tissue engineering and drug delivery systems with improved biocompatibility and healing performance. This chapter covers microwave sintering of biomaterials in detail, such as the different types of biomaterials that can be processed by this technique and the challenges that can be overcome so as to yield newer products in the future. In particular, this chapter highlights the use of microwave sintering for the manufacture of artificial biomaterials for diverse medical applications.