Sol-gel processing of hydroxyapatite

Hydroxyapatite, a calcium phosphate-based compound with numerous applications in the biological field was synthesized using the sol–gel processing route. The formation of hydroxyapatite and other compounds during the heat-treatment cycle were identified and characterized using thermal analyses and X-ray diffraction together with infrared and Raman spectroscopy. The influence of the addition of various organic alcohols (R–OH, R=CH3–, C2H5– and C3H8–) on the reaction results was studied. © 1998 Kluwer Academic Publishers