Processing of Bioceramics by Pressing and Tape Casting

Advanced ceramics with novel processing techniques have recently been developed for various applications, from daily life to a space shuttle. One of the most significant and practical applications of advanced ceramics in human healthcare is the replacement of bone tissues that have been lost or injured. In this regard, the development of bioceramics and their processing for bone implants and scaffolds (tissue engineering) are highly interdisciplinary topics addressed collaboratively by engineers and material scientists. This chapter deals with shaping and processing of bioceramics by pressing and tape casting, including fundamental principles, experimental details, and their specific applications. Uniaxial pressing, cold and hot isostatic pressing, and tape casting methods are discussed as specific examples of bioceramics to fabricate variously shaped dense, porous, and functionally graded samples designed for implant and scaffold applications.