Trikalziumphosphat

Trikalziumphosphat, or tricalcium phosphate (Ca3(PO4)2), is a calcium phosphate compound used in various industrial and health-related applications. The German name Trikalziumphosphat is a direct reference to its composition: three calcium ions balanced by two phosphate units. In common practice it is often abbreviated TCP.

TCP exists in several crystal forms, notably alpha-TCP and beta-TCP, which differ in structure and stability. It is also related to natural minerals such as whitlockite. The compound is a white to grayish powder with low solubility in water and greater solubility under acidic conditions. It is generally produced commercially by reacting calcium salts (for example calcium hydroxide) with phosphoric acid in stoichiometric proportions, followed by filtration, drying, and calcination as needed to achieve the desired polymorph.

Applications of tricalcium phosphate are broad. It is used as a dietary calcium supplement and as an anticaking and coagulating agent in food products (often referenced as calcium phosphate in regulatory lists). In medicine and dentistry, TCP is employed as a bioactive ceramic in bone graft substitutes and calcium phosphate cements, where it supports bone ingrowth and gradual resorption. It also appears in certain toothpaste formulations to aid remineralization of enamel. In pharmaceutical and laboratory settings, TCP serves as a carrier or filler material.

Safety and regulation considerations typically align with other calcium phosphates: TCP is of low toxicity and widely regarded as safe when used appropriately. Excessive intake can contribute to hyperphosphatemia or other metabolic disturbances, particularly in individuals with kidney impairment. See also calcium phosphate family and hydroxyapatite.