Abstract
A new hydrothermal route for preparing biphasic calcium phosphate monoliths is proposed. Firstly, a slurry of b-tricalcium phosphate/ortho-phosphoric acid (b-TCP/H3PO4) is cast into the desired final shape and size to obtain a block composed of dicalcium phosphate dihydrate (DCPD) and b-TCP. This block is then treated in 1.0 M Na2HPO4 at 60 °C in order to hydrolyze the DCPD into Ca10-x(HPO4)x(PO4) 6-x(OH)2-x (CDHA) and Ca8H2(PO4)6 .5H2O (OCP). The result is a monolithic piece which preserves the initial shape and size, but which is composed instead of CDHA, OCP, and b-TCP. During the initial stage, when the pH is slightly alkaline, the product of DCPD hydrolysis is CDHA. However, when a neutral or slightly acidic pH is reached OCP is formed. Test samples processed by this method showed complete conversion of DCPD into CDHA and OCP after 112 h of hydrolysis, and with a compressive strength of 16.2 MPa, similar to cancellous bone.
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