Ceramics Based on a Powder Mixture of Calcium Hydroxyapatite, Monocalcium Phosphate Monohydrate, and Sodium Hydrogen Phosphate Homogenized under Mechanical Activation Conditions

Abstract

Calcium phosphate ceramics, with the phase composition represented by β-calcium pyrophosphate β-Ca2P2O7, was obtained from a powder mixture of calcium hydroxyapatite Ca10(PO4)6(OH)2, monocalcium phosphate monohydrate Ca(H2PO4)2 · H2O, and sodium hydrogen phosphate Na2HPO4. The powder mixture was preliminarily homogenized in acetone using a planetary mill. This treatment resulted in the chemical reaction between the starting components to form monetite, calcium hydrogen phosphate CaHPO4 (precursor of calcium pyrophosphate Ca2P2O7). According to the XRD data, sodium hydrogen phosphate Na2HPO4 when present in an amount of 5 wt % in the starting mixture had no effect on the phase composition of the powder after homogenization and of the ceramics after annealing. Sodium pyrophosphate Na4P2O7 formed from sodium hydrogen phosphate Na2HPO4 as a result of thermal conversion had a significant effect on sintering mechanism and the microstructure of the ceramics. A ceramics with a low sintering temperature based on β-calcium pyrophosphate β-Ca2P2O7 was obtained for the first time from a powder system, upon preparation of which under mechanical activation conditions homogenization of components and synthesis of the main crystal phase precursor were combined.