Calcium nitrate tetrahydrate (Ca(NO3)2·4H2O) and triethyl phosphate (C6H15O4P) were used as raw materials in order to prepare at room temperature by the sol-gel method a phospahate-based nanopowder, as precursor for hydroxyapatite (HAp).
The thermal behavior of the precursors was investigated by thermal analysis methods (DTA/TG).The precursor powder was uniaxially pressed as cylindrical specimens, which were thermally treated at temperatures range between 850 and 1300°C for 2 hours. The as-prepared ceramics were investigated from phase composition, chemical and morphological point of view by X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy coupled with energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM).
Besides, the HAp-based ceramics were characterized from the point of view of the mechanical behavior by determining the compressive mechanical proprieties.