title: A synthesis route to nanoparticle dicalcium silicate for biomaterials research.
abstract: Dicalcium silicate (Ca₂ SiO₄) has been reported as an interesting candidate for biomaterials use due to its attractive bioactive properties. Here, we report on how dicalcium silicate was prepared by a sol-gel route using calcium nitrate tetrahydrate and tetraorthosilicate as the precursors chemicals for CaO and SiO₂ , respectively. The synthesized powders were characterized using thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction (XRD), Brunauer-Emmett-Teller (BET) method, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). High purity dicalcium silicate at a CaO/SiO₂ molar ratio of 2:1 could be formed by the sol-gel method without a washing process and was then calcined at 800°C. The effects of the molar ratio of CaO/SiO₂ , the washing process, and the calcination temperature have been shown to affect the purity, the formation, and the particle size of the nanoparticles, which have been investigated and discussed.
authors.affiliation: National Metal and Materials Technology Center, Klong Luang, Pathumthani 12120, Thailand.
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Booncharoen
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Jaroenworaluck
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Stevens
mesh_terms: D001672:Biocompatible Materials / Q000737:chemistry*; D017610:Calcium Compounds / Q000737:chemistry*; D002152:Calorimetry, Differential Scanning / Q000379:methods; D008855:Microscopy, Electron, Scanning / Q000379:methods; D046529:Microscopy, Electron, Transmission / Q000379:methods; D053758:Nanoparticles / Q000737:chemistry*; D036103:Nanotechnology / Q000379:methods*; D010316:Particle Size; D044367:Phase Transition; D011208:Powders; D017640:Silicates / Q000737:chemistry*; D017550:Spectroscopy, Fourier Transform Infrared / Q000379:methods; D013499:Surface Properties; D014961:X-Ray Diffraction
chemical_list: D001672:Biocompatible Materials; D017610:Calcium Compounds; D011208:Powders; D017640:Silicates; C013481:dicalcium silicate