Synthesis, characterization and formation mechanism of nanosized β-tricalcium phosphate with plate-like structure

A simple route for synthesizing nano-sized β-tricalcium phosphate (β-TCP) powder is using chemical precipitation method through aqueous solution of diammonium hydrogen phosphate (NH4)2HPO4 and calcium nitrate Ca(NO3)2 as the row materials. In this paper, nano-sized β- TCP was prepared with low concentration of precursors and low addition rate of the second phase to first phase. The crystal β-TCP powders were obtained after the precursors had been mixed for 24 h, then dried at 80-100 °C and calcined at 800 °C. The morphology and phase composition were analyzed by SEM, AFM, XRD and EDXA. The product largely consisted of porous plated crystals of 50–100 nm in thickness, holes when present were 100–300 nm in diameter. The Ca/P ratio of the resulting powders was strongly dependent on the pH of the solution, concentration and addition rate of row materials.