Alpha-tricalcium phosphate (α-TCP): solid state synthesis from different calcium precursors and the hydraulic reactivity.

The effects of solid state synthesis process parameters and primary calcium precursor on the cement-type hydration efficiency (at 37 °C) of α-tricalcium phosphate (Ca(3)(PO(4))(2) or α-TCP) into hydroxyapatite (Ca(10-x)HPO(4)(PO(4))(6-x)(OH)(2-x) x = 0-1, or HAp) have been investigated. α-TCP was synthesized by firing of stoichiometric amount of calcium carbonate (CaCO(3)) and monetite (CaHPO(4)) at 1150-1350 °C for 2 h. Three commercial grade CaCO(3) powders of different purity were used as the starting material and the resultant α-TCP products for all synthesis routes were compared in terms of the material properties and the reactivity.