Hydroxyapatite synthesis using microwave irradiation during the crystallization step

Synthetic hydroxyapatite, Ca-10(PO4)(6)(OH)(2), is a biomaterial used to reconstruct damaged bone tissue or to recover protheses. Indeed, the chemical composition and structure is similar to the mineral phase contained in the scheleton. This similarity favors the formation of bonds with the bone, it becomes then a biocompatible material. Hydroxyapatite may be obtained from bones, but, nowadays, it is synthesized through various chemical procedures such as: solid state, sol-gel, double decomposition, neutralization and hydrothermal reactions. The hydrothermal method is the most employed due to its simplicity but it presents the disadvantage of the required high temperatures (600-1000 degrees C) and very long times (2-14 days) to obtain hydroxyapatite crystals. A recent improvement in the synthesis of solids as pillared clays, hydrotalcites or zeolites has been the microwave irradiation, as it reduces time and crystallization temperature. In this work, hydroxyapatite is synthesized in presence of microwave irradiation in an autoclave at 80 degrees C for 10 minutes, 1 atm and 200 W power. The influence of pH is studied. The microwave treatment reduced considerably the synthesis time if compared to the other methods. The properties, texture and morphology of the obtained compounds were significantly modified.