The current approach in bone tissue engineering requires resorbable biomaterials that enhance bone formation while maintaining sufficient mechanical stability. In this work, the influence of three levels of B-type carbonate substitution in hydroxyapatite lattice on mechanical strength and degradation rate is analyzed. The inverse aqueous route has been selected as a synthesis method of four powders with carbonate substitution between 4 and 6 wt.%. X-ray fluorescence (XRF), (C-S)-Analysis, FT-Infrared, X-ray diffraction, DTA-TG and TEM were used to investigate chemical composition, type of substitution, thermal behaviour, and morphology of the powders. Disc shaped specimens were processed by uniaxial pressing and sintering in argon/CO2 flow. Maximum temperatures of thermal treatment between 750 and 850 °C were selected to obtain similar porosity levels for the different compositions. The highest carbonate substituted material (5.3 wt.%) presented higher compressive strength and dissolution rate than the other materials showing the beneficial effect of B-type substitution in hydroxyapatite materials for bone repair. © 2024 The Authors

Support from Spanish National Research Council (CSIC) through the scientific cooperation project I - COOP + 2018 (COOPA20289) and PIE 201660E097. Support from Colombian Ministry of Science, Technology, and Innovation (MinCiencias) through project "111574557862" of 745/2016.

Peer reviewed