Effect of MgO addition on solid state synthesis and thermal behavior of beta-tricalcium phosphate

In the present work the effect of Mg2+ ion doping (1–14 mol%) on the solid state synthesis of beta-tricalcium phosphate (β-TCP) powder and its thermal behaviour is investigated. The powders are synthesized at temperatures between 1000 and 1300 °C for 2 h, starting from brushite (hydrated calcium hydrogen phosphate—CaHPO4·2H2O) and calcium carbonate (Ca CO3). The maximum substitution of Mg2+ ion in β-TCP lattice decreases from >14 mol% to less than 8 mol% as the synthesis temperature increases from 1000 to 1300 °C. It is also found that already in 1 mol% MgO doped powders the β-TCP phase is stabilized at temperatures higher than 1500 °C.