title: Compositional variations in apatites with respect to preferential ionic extraction.
abstract: Detection of ionic losses from the apatitic structure (Ca10(PO4)6(OH)2) by high-resolution electron microscopy was investigated theoretically. Linear image analysis showed the need for an objective aperture of at least 3.7 nm-1 to visualize four different coordinates (CaII, OH-, P and mid-point between CaII-P bond). High-resolution image analysis and plotting of OH- column intensity against specimen thickness showed an inverse proportionality between composition and OH- image intensities for very thin specimens (less than 2 nm). Image intensity variation would be detectable experimentally, but the preparation of such thin specimens by ultramicrotomy is impossible.
authors.affiliation: Faculté de Chirurgie Dentaire, INSERM U157, Strasbourg, France.
authors.forename: F J
authors.initials: FJ
authors.lastname: Cuisinier
authors.forename: R W
authors.initials: RW
authors.lastname: Glaisher
authors.forename: J C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Voegel
authors.forename: J L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Hutchison
authors.forename: E F
authors.initials: EF
authors.lastname: Brès
authors.forename: R M
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Frank
mesh_terms: D001031:Apatites / Q000737:chemistry*; D003460:Crystallization; D017886:Durapatite; D006882:Hydroxyapatites / Q000737:chemistry*; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted; D008854:Microscopy, Electron; D012984:Software; D014961:X-Ray Diffraction
chemical_list: D001031:Apatites; D006882:Hydroxyapatites; D017886:Durapatite