Synthesis of carbonated calcium phosphate ceramics using microwave irradiation.

Carbonated hydroxyapatites (CHA) were synthesized by the substitution of calcium carbonate for calcium hydroxide during the reaction with diammonium phosphate under microwave irradiation. The X-ray powder diffraction analysis indicates the decrease of alpha-axis up to 20 mol% of carbonate substitution confirming the formation of the B-type CHA. Further increase of carbonate content shows the presence of tricalcium phosphate (TCP) in addition to CHA. Reaction of substituted magnesium carbonate instead of calcium carbonate in the above process results in the formation of biphasic calcium phosphate (BCP) ceramics consisting of both CHA and TCP phases. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopic study also confirmed the carbonate substitution in HA and BCP formation. The in vitro solubility study in phosphate buffer of pH 7.2 at 37 degrees C showed the resorbable nature of the BCP samples. The present study thus indicates the feasibility of in situ formation of BCP ceramics using microwave irradiation.