Abstract: Calcium hydroxyapatite (Ca₁₀(PO₄)₆(OH)₂) has been synthesized in short duration by rapid solution combustion by employing different fuels. Calcium nitrate was taken as source of calcium and diammonium hydrogen phosphate served as the source of phosphate ions. Citric acid, tartaric acid, sucrose, glycine and urea were used as the fuels and nitrate ions and nitric acid were used as oxidizers. The influence of fuels on the morphology of the phase formed was studied. Results of the studies by powder X-ray diffraction and Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy showed the formation of hydroxyapatite as a major phase for all the fuels. The thermal analysis of the decomposed precursor showed variation in heat content for different fuels. Scanning electron microscopy showed different morphologies of the products obtained by different fuels. Chemical analyses to determine the Ca:P atomic ratio in synthesized ceramics showed that the ratio was 1:1.66.

Key words: Bioceramics, Combustion synthesis, Thermochemistry, Morphology