Monetite promoting effect of NaCl on brushite cement setting kinetics

Brushite forming calcium phosphate cements (CPCs) have received growing interest for scaffold applications due to their high surface area and high bioresorbability. The dehydrated form of brushite, monetite, has a finer microstructure with higher surface area, higher strength and bioresorbability comparable to brushite, making it a viable alternative phase in CPCs. The increase in monetite content of the β-tricalcium phosphate (β-TCP)-monocalcium phosphate monohydrate (MCPM) cement system due to the reduction in its supersaturation upon addition of NaCl to excess setting liquid was investigated kinetically. The relaxation period was monitored by pH-stat titration of the cement solution by 0.1 M NaOH. Monetite growth was achieved in shorter periods at higher NaCl concentrations where the supersaturation gap between brushite and monetite is thought to be narrowed due to high ionic strength in accord with Pitzer's ion interaction model. The brushite/monetite ratio decreased consistently with increasing NaCl concentration in the 3-6 M range.