Preparation and properties of tetracalcium phosphate–monetite biocement

•Preparation of tetracalcium phosphate–nanomonetite cement powder mixture.•Analysis of particle morphologies, setting times and mechanical properties.•Characterization of cement microstructure and pH paste during hardening.

The tetracalcium phosphate–monetite cement mixture was prepared by reaction milling of tetracalcium phosphate with the orthophosphoric acid ethanol solution. The presence of nanomonetite phase caused significant lowering of the pH value in cement paste during hardening. The agglomerates of nanomonetite phase homogeneously distributed in powder cement mixture were observed by TEM. The compressive strength and setting times of cement were 35 MPa and 4–9 min respectively.