Phosphate → Tricalcium Phosphate

Participants

Reaction Steps

β-TCP was synthesized by heating a mixture of CaCO3 (Merck, Darmstadt, Germany) and CaHPO4 (Mallinckrodt Baker, Griesham, Germany) with an overall calcium to phosphate molar ratio (Ca:P) of 1.5 to 1050° C. for 24 h prior to quenching at room temperature in a desiccator. The product was verified as being phase pure highly crystalline β-TCP by X-ray diffraction. The resultant ‘cake’ was ground in a pestle and mortar and passed through a 355 μm sieve, subsequently 125 g of powder was milled using a planetary ball mill (PM400 Retsch, Germany) at 200 rpm in 500 ml agate jars, 4 agate balls (30 mm) for 1 h. Pyrophosphate ions were incorporated into the β-TCP structure by adjusting the CaP ratio of the starting powder mixture to 1.25 prior to sintering. To study the effect of mixing regime, cements were also prepared by mixing the components using less energy with mortar and pestle and by manually passing them together through a 355 μm sieve.

Provenance & Evidence