1998 Volume 8 Pages 17-21
The transformation of α-tricalcium phosphate (α-TCP) to hydroxyapatite (HAp) in organic media has been investigated. Hydrolysis of α-TCP in a series of aliphatic alcohols was carried out under the control of pH and the reaction temperature. The transformation rates and shape of HAp depended on aliphatic alcohols. The formation rates of HAp increased with increasing hydrophobicity of alcohols. The rates in 1-octanol and 1-hexanol were 5-times faster than that in the hydrophilic alcohols and were compatible to that without alcohols. The shape of HAp prepared in the hydrophobic alcohols were the needle-like particle (length; 1.0~3.5μm) and differed from HAp prepared in hydrophilic alcohols or without alcohol.
