Possibilities of Mechanochemical Synthesis of Apatites with Different Ca/P Ratios

Abstract

Apatite is widely used in medicine as a biomaterial for bone tissue restoration. Properties of apatite depend on its composition, including the Ca/P ratio. This paper shows what range of Ca/P ratio can be attained in apatite by the mechanochemical method of synthesis, providing fast formation of a single-phase product. The synthesis was carried out from a reaction mixture of CaHPO4 and CaO at different Ca/P ratios in the range of 1.17–2.10. The products were studied by PXRD, FTIR and NMR spectroscopy, HRTEM, and STA. In mixtures with a low initial Ca/P ratio (1.17–1.48), directly in the mill, the formation of calcium orthophosphate with whitlockite structure containing an HPO42− group and structural water is shown for the first time. This phosphate has structure similar to that of whitlockites of hydrothermal origin and differs from high-temperature β-tricalcium phosphate that has composition Ca3(PO4)3. A series of samples of apatite was obtained with varied composition, which depends on the initial Ca/P ratio. At Ca/P < 1.67, the formation of two types of calcium-deficient apatite was documented. At Ca/P > 1.67, the existence of two types of calcium-rich apatite is confirmed.