Characterization and hydration kinetics of tricalcium silicate cement for use as a dental biomaterial

Investigation and characterization of the replacement of the Portland cement component in mineral trioxide aggregate (MTA) with tricalcium silicate cement which is manufactured using the sol-gel method from pure raw materials.

Tricalcium silicate and Portland cement were characterized by viewing under the scanning electron microscope (SEM) and surface imaging and elemental analysis with X-ray energy dispersive analysis (EDX), and by X-ray diffraction analysis with Rietveld refinement. In addition the hydration products of the material after 28 days of curing were evaluated by plotting atomic ratio plots from the EDX data. The cement leachate was evaluated for pH and chemical composition by inductively coupled plasma.

Portland cement was composed of 68% tricalcium silicate. The tricalcium silicate cement was 99% pure. On hydration both cements produced calcium silicate hydrate and calcium hydroxide. The calcium hydroxide was leached in solution with higher leaching in HBSS. The leaching of calcium hydroxide in solution resulted in an alkaline pH. The reaction of calcium with the phosphorus present in HBSS resulting in the deposition of calcium phosphate on the cement surface.

Tricalcium silicate could prospectively replace the Portland cement component in MTA.