Kinetics of conversion of brushite coatings to hydroxyapatite in alkaline solution

Abstract

This work describes the kinetics of conversion of brushite coatings, produced by chemical deposition, to hydroxyapatite. The conversion was performed in alkaline solution at three temperatures: 50 °C, 55 °C, and 60 °C. The evolution of the transformation was assessed by X-ray diffraction, and the phase fractions were determined by Rietveld refinement. The Johnson–Mehl–Avrami equation was applied to the data in order to describe the conversion mechanisms. The value of 42 kJ/mol obtained for the conversion activation energy is of the same order as found in similar surface-controlled dissolution processes. The Avrami exponent was n = 3.5, which is consistent with an interface-controlled growth of three-dimensional HA crystals with decreasing nucleation rate. Keywords: Hydroxyapatite, Conversion kinetics, Activation energy, Avrami equation