Akemi Yasukawa, Takeshi Kunimoto, Kaori Kamiuchi, Kazuhiko Kandori and Tatsuo Ishikawa
Lead hydroxyapatite (PbHAP) particles were prepared by a homogeneous precipitation reaction of Pb(NO3)2 and (NH4)2HPO4 using acetamide (AA) in aqueous media. The particles obtained under different conditions were examined by various methods, including XRD, FTIR, SEM, ICP, TG-DTA and N2 adsorption. The crystal phase of the products depended on the concentration of AA ([AA]) and the ageing period (ta). Large highly crystalline needle-like PbHAP particles were formed by ageing at [AA]=0.4-1.6 mol dm–3 and ta≥1 day. At [AA]≥3.2 mol dm–3 a mixture of PbHAP and α-Pb3(PO4)2 was generated. The transformation of α-Pb3(PO4)2 to PbHAP in solution at [AA]≥3.2 mol dm–3 was hindered by CH3COOH, produced by hydrolysis of AA.