Study on the dissolution behaviour of calcium fluoride

The dissolution of two analytical calcium fluoride preparations was studied in aqueous solution. Dissolved calcium fluoride was determined from analysis of Ca and F in solution. Original samples of the two preparations and the residue after partial dissolution were studied by X-ray diffractometry in comparison with natural fluorite. The dissolution of calcium fluoride was found to be extremely slow. After a period of 1-15 weeks, depending on the experimental conditions, a state was reached where apparently no further dissolution occurred, although the solution was far from saturation. The dissolution rate was obviously closely related to the crystal size. On partial dissolution the mean crystal size increased, probably due to the disappearance of the finest fractions. Placing the salt in a dialysis bag before immersion in the water lowered the dissolution rate and increased the undissolved fraction considerably. The results seem to support the assertion that calcium fluoride accumulated in early carious lesions after topical applications of fluoride may persist for considerable periods of time.