Preparation of carbonate apatite cement based on α-TCP

Carbonate apatite showed an excellent bioresorbability through the remodeling process of bone. In the present study, we prepared self-setting carbonate apatite cement based on α-TCP. We tried two types of the cement powder formulations, that is, first one (F1) is α-TCP containing given amounts (10 to 50 mass%) of synthesized carbonate apatite and second one (F2) is α-TCP treated in 0.5M NaHCO₃ for various times between 90 and 360 min. The cement powder was mixed with 0.25M Na₂HPO₄ to allow set at 37°C and 100% of relative humidity up to 1 day. XRD and FT-IR results showed formation of B-type carbonate apatite phase after setting in both of the formulations. With the formulation, F1, the carbonate content was increased with the treatment time and the maximum content was 4.1 mass%. DTS deacreased with the amount of cabonate apatite in the formulation, F1, however, it increased up to 9 MPa with treatment time in the formulation, F2.