Biphasic calcium phosphates: influence of three synthesis parameters on the HA/beta-TCP ratio

Hydroxyapatite (HA) contents measurements were conducted on eight biphasic calcium phosphate (BCP) samples obtained by sintering calcium-deficient apatite formed previously by hydrolyzing a dicalcium phosphate dihydrate (DCPD) powder. We evaluated the influences and interactions of three synthesis factors: alkalinity, process duration, and concentration of the water suspension in DCPD. Those parameters were varied simultaneously between two limit levels. Experiments used a factorial design method (FDM) allowing optimization of the number of samples as well as statistical analysis of results. FDM showed that HA content, in a defined experimental area, can be described by a first-order polynomial equation in which the initial alcalinity and the DCPD/water ratio are the major influences. Experiment prove that pH measured at the end of the hydrolysis was predictive of the HA content in the final BCP. This study leads up to an isoresponse line diagram which will allow the synthesis of some BCP with fitted HA/beta-tricalcium phosphate ratios.