Structural transformations in the a-tricalcium phosphate powders after mechanical activation and subsequent heat treatment

X-ray diffraction analysis of the structural phase evolution in the a-TCP powder subjected to milling in the planetary mill in butanol, and followed by annealing at 1300 °C was performed. After milling, there was a systematic smoothing of the X-ray diffraction pattern of α-TCP. Significant changes in lattice constants and atomic parameters were not observed. The average particle size was reduced from 10 to 2 micrometers. The decrease of the size of coherently scattering domains CSD (250 to 80 nm) makes the main contribution to the X-ray lines broadening. The value of microstrain changes from 1 *10^-6 to 2*10^-4. After annealing at 1300 °C for 2 hours the phase with apatite structure was found. The content of the apatite phase increases with increasing of time of mechanical activation. Possible mechanisms of deformation of α-TCP particles and structural transformations α-TCP → HA are considered. (paper)