Structural characterization of bioceramics and mineralized tissues based on Raman and XRD techniques

Abstract

The design of new bioceramics requires a deep understanding of their structural characteristics using a combination of different characterization techniques. This paper offers an exhaustive Raman spectroscopy and X-ray diffraction study of two groups of bioceramics natural and synthetic, as well as of living tissues with different degrees of mineralization. Based on these results, two Raman-XRD correlation charts are proposed. Using a single Raman measurement, these charts are valuable tools for the identification of a number of structural parameters, such as the apatite phase percentage or crystallite size, of different calcium phosphate-based bioceramics and mineralized tissues.