α-Tricalcium phosphate: Synthesis, properties and biomedical applications

Nowadays, α-tricalcium phosphate (α-TCP, α-Ca3(PO4)2) is receiving growing attention as a raw material for several injectable hydraulic bone cements, biodegradable bioceramics and composites for bone repair. In the phase equilibrium diagram of the CaO–P2O5 system, three polymorphs corresponding to the composition Ca3(PO4)2 are recognized: β-TCP, α-TCP and α′-TCP. α-TCP is formed by heating the low-temperature polymorph β-TCP or by thermal...