trikalciumfosfat

Trikalciumfosfat, commonly known as tricalcium phosphate (TCP), is a calcium phosphate with the chemical formula Ca3(PO4)2. It exists in two polymorphs at ambient pressure: alpha-TCP and beta-TCP. The beta form is the stable phase at room temperature, while alpha-TCP forms under high-temperature conditions and can transform to other calcium phosphate phases when heated.

In nature, TCP is not a common pure mineral and is primarily produced synthetically for medical, dental, and nutritional applications. It can be prepared by precipitating calcium salts with phosphate under controlled pH or by thermal treatment of calcium phosphate precursors. The material is a white to off-white powder and is relatively insoluble in water, with greater solubility in acidic environments.

Applications include its use as a calcium source in foods and supplements, and as a filler and anti-caking agent in the food industry. In medicine and dentistry, TCP is a component of calcium phosphate cements and porous implants used as bone substitutes. Beta-TCP-based materials are valued for their resorbability, gradually being replaced by host bone, while hydroxyapatite is less resorbable. TCP is also used in dentistry and oral care, sometimes in toothpaste formulations as a remineralization agent, and as a component in bioactive ceramics and scaffolds for bone regeneration.

Safety and regulation: TCP is generally regarded as safe for many uses in food and consumer products. In medical applications it is designed to be biocompatible and osteoconductive. It is important to distinguish TCP from other calcium phosphates such as hydroxyapatite and brushite, which differ in structure, solubility, and resorption behavior.