Influence of Si substitution on the reactivity of a-tricalcium phosphate

Abstract

Silicon substituted calcium phosphates have been widely studied over the last ten years due to their enhanced osteogenic properties. Notwithstanding, the role of silicon on a-TCP reactivity is not clear yet. Therefore, the aim of this work was to evaluate the reactivity and the properties of Si-a-TCP in comparison to a-TCP. Precursor powders have similar properties regarding purity, particle size distribution and specific surface area, which allowed a better comparison of the Si effects on their reactivity and cements properties. Both Si-a-TCP and a-TCP hydrolyzed to a calcium-deficient hydroxyapatite when mixed with water but their conversion rates were different. Si-a-TCP exhibited a slower setting rate than a-TCP, i.e. kSSA for Si-TCP (0.021 g·m- 2·h- 1) was almost four times lower than for a-TCP (0.072 g·m- 2·h- 1). On the other hand, the compressive strength of the CPC resulting from fully reacted Si-a-TCP was significantly higher (12.80 ± 0.38 MPa) than that of a-TCP (11.44 ± 0.54 MPa), due to the smaller size of the entangled precipitated apatite crystals.