Synthesis of Tetracalcium Phosphate at Reduced Temperatures

Tetracalcium phosphate (TTCP) requires the highest synthesis temperatures of all the calcium phosphates, but now a new process is available at 400 oC lower than previously, at 900 oC. Instead of ball-milling reactants for a homogeneous mix, the reactants for solid-state synthesis were assembled in an amorphous phase. Heating produced hydroxyapatite, then oxyapatite and finally TTCP. Amorphous nanoparticles were synthesized and then heated in air or in vacuo. The sequence of solid-state reactions were tracked with X-ray diffraction and Fourier transform infra-red spectroscopy. Heating in air stabilized the carbonate containing apatite, thereby requiring higher temperatures for decomposition, as per previous studies. Heating in vacuum promoted oxyapatite; a critical step for reaction with calcium oxide to generate TTCP. This faster process enables production at a lower temperature and minimizes ball milling for producing fine TTCP powders