Microwave assisted synthesis and characterization of single‐phase tabular hexagonal newberyite, an important bioceramic

Magnesium phosphate compounds such as newberyite (MgHPO4·3H2O) and struvite (MgNH4PO4·6H2O) are becoming important alternatives to calcium phosphates in hard tissue replacements. So far, newberyite has received lesser attention with respect to struvite. Therefore, the broad aim of this paper is to report an easy synthesis technique and characterization of single‐phase newberyite, which may have diverse uses as a bioceramic material. Specifically, we describe a simple and robust microwave‐assisted process for the synthesis of single‐phase newberyite in tabular hexagonal form. Second, we soak the newberyite powders in simulated body fluid, a solution which mimics the pH and ion concentration of human blood plasma, for 7 days and analyze the apatite formation on the crystals. Third, we report that single‐phase newberyite, by itself, does not possess antibacterial property.