Suggesting a full two level experimental factorial model with three factors to optimize Ti-HA biocomposite properties

A metal matrix composites (MMCs) is introduced to serve as synthetic bone grafts. The MMC was synthetized via powder metallurgical method after milling raw powder mixture of hydroxyapatite (HA) particles and pure titanium (Ti) powder. A full two level experimental factorial model with three factors (2^3) was developed to study the effect of three main parameters of synthetizing process on the hardness, density, and crystallite size of the composite. The synthetizing process parameters under consideration were the mechanical alloying time as well as the ceramic powder initial size and its mass fraction in the mixed powder. The results demonstrate that the composite’s hardness is increasing with higher HA mass fraction (W/W) of the composite and longer milling time. The analysis of data also show that the initial HA particle size has insignificant influence on the composite’s hardness, while higher HA content fraction in the MMC decreases the density of the composite.