Solid state synthesis and thermal stability of HAP and HAP - beta-TCP composite ceramic powders

Powders of pure beta-tricalcium phosphate (beta-TCP), hydroxyapatite (HAP) and a biphasic composite mixture of HAP + beta-TCP were prepared by solid state reaction between two commercially available calcium-based precursors namely, tricalcium phosphate (TCP) and calcium hydroxide (Ca(OH)(2)). These reactants mixed in the molar ratios ranging from 3:0 to 3:4 (designated T-0 to T-4) in deionized water, milled and slip-cast into discs were heat treated in the temperature range of 600 degrees C to 1250 degrees C. The products formed were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD) and i.r. spectroscopic techniques for identification of phases formed and functional groups present in them. While tricalcium phosphate and calcium hydroxide taken in the molar ratio of 3:2 and 3:3 resulted in pure HAP when heat treated at 1000 degrees C for 8 h, the 3:1 and 3:1.5 molar ratio compositions resulted in a biphasic mixture of HAP + beta-TCP for similar heat treatments. Heat treatment of 3:4 molar ratio composition of tricalcium phosphate and calcium hydroxide at 1000 degrees C yielded HAP with free CaO as the secondary phase. Products of heat treatment at higher temperatures (1150 and 1250 degrees C) for even shorter duration (2 h) while not differing from the products obtained from T-0 and T-2 cases at 1000 degrees C (pure beta-TCP and pure HAP), change in the case of T-1, T-1.5, T-3 and T-4 to products with lesser percentages of HAP containing beta-TCP (in the case of T-1 and T-1.5) or CaO(in the case of T-3 and T-4) as the secondary phase.