SYNTHESIS AND CHARACTERIZATION OF CALCIUM-DEFICIENT APATITE

Calcium deficient apatites, which could be used as precursors of the i norganic component of biological apatites, have been synthesised by co ntrolled crystallisation. The influence of the pH and the reaction tim e in the calcium deficiency and the crystal size of samples have been studied. For determination of Ca/P ratio of as-received apatites, a me thod based on Rietveld profile analysis of X-ray diffraction data is p roposed. The results obtained using this method agree well with those obtained by other classical analytical methods.