Abstract: This work presents ANOVA and Tukey’s statistic tests that were conducted in Knoop microhardness results of boron carbide sintered samples. Three samples, A, B, and C, of different processing conditions were tested and statistical analysis showed that microhardness results are strongly influenced by porosity and chemical composition, mainly due to the presence of C(2H) and WB2.5 contaminant phases. Those phases promoted higher densification in A and B samples and it was found that A ≈ B > C is the relation between the microhardness results of the samples, while A ≈ B < C is the porosity ratio of the samples. Furthermore, this work aims to apply a statistical tool to evaluate the microhardness results performed on advanced ceramics and, using these results, to control parameters in the sintering process, showing that a deeper statistical analysis is necessary for the interpretation and validation of the results merit.

Resumo No presente estudo, pós de hidroxiapatita e hidroxiapatita substituída com zinco foram sintetizados utilizando-se casca de ovo de avestruz como fonte de cálcio. As amostras foram analisadas por microscopia eletrônica de varredura com fonte de emissão de campo e difração de raios X (DRX) para identificação das fases presentes, e por espectroscopia de fluorescência de raios X para análise química quantitativa dos pós sintetizados e tratados termicamente. A técnica de espectroscopia de infravermelho por transformada de Fourier foi utilizada antes e após tratamentos térmicos a 700, 900 e 1100 °C, a fim de identificar os grupos funcionais, como uma técnica complementar a DRX. Os resultados apresentados neste estudo representam um método promissor para a síntese de hidroxiapatita e hidroxiapatita parcialmente substituída com zinco, uma vez que os resultados não mostraram a presença de fases indesejáveis ou impurezas nos pós produzidos. Constatou-se que as amostras sintetizadas com Zn apresentaram maior estabilidade térmica do que as amostras de hidroxiapatita pura.

Abstract In the present study, hydroxyapatite and Zn-substituted hydroxyapatite powders were synthesized using ostrich eggshell as a calcium source. The samples were analyzed by scanning electron microscopy with field emission gun, and X-ray diffraction (XRD) to identify the present phases, and X-ray fluorescence spectroscopy for quantitative chemical analysis of the synthesized and heat treated powders. The Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy technique was used before and after heat treatments at 700, 900 and 1100 °C in order to identify the functional groups present, as an additional technique to the XRD analysis. The results presented in this study represent a promising method for synthesis of hydroxyapatite and hydroxyapatite partially substituted with zinc, since the results showed no undesirable phases or impurities in the produced powders. It was observed that Zn-substituted hydroxyapatite showed higher thermal stability, when compared to pure hydroxyapatite.