Characterization of Nano-Biphasic Calcium Phosphates Synthesized under Microwave Curing

Abstract

Two biphasic BCP ceramic samples were synthesized by chemical precipitation and microwave curing of calcium deficient hydroxyapatite CDHA under the same pH value and temperature but varied in their initial Ca/P molar ratio. Precipitates were characterization after thermogravimetric analysis, fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction, atomic absorption spectroscopy and TEM. Hydroxyapatite (HA) contents were measured for the two biphasic calcium phosphate (BCP) ceramics by sintering the calcium-deficient apatites (CDHA). The results reveal two condensation mechanisms of HPO42- affecting the Ca/P molar ratio after calcination. The X-ray diffraction patterns of BCP powders show the in situ formation of -TCP in the BCP powder. The amount of -TCP phase increases as the initial Ca/P molar ratio decreases due to more calcium deficiency in CDHA structure. The influence of HPO42- incorporation on increasing -TCP phase content after calcination is evaluated. TEM micrographs proved the effect of microwave curing during the preparation process on reducing of particle size to nanoscale range and the destruction of CDHA to finer HA and -TCP particles upon calcination.