Hydroxyapatite

CAS No. 1306-06-5

Molecular formula: Ca5(PO4)3OH

Hydroxyapatite (abbreviation: HAP) is the main component of human skeleton and teeth. Around 65% of human skeleton, 70% of dentin and 95% of enamel are hydroxyapatite; the total content of hydroxyapatite reaches 20% of human body.

Synthetic hydroxyapatite is a new functional material used in many industries. It belongs to the advanced inorganic non-metallic mineral filling material with high performance in【National Key New Materials First Application Demonstration Guide Catalogue (2017 edition)】. It is widely used in artificial bone, teeth and other bioceramics, toothpaste, drinking water defluorination and polymer materials.

Characteristics of hydroxyapatite: white tasteless, safe and edible; strong binding with colorings, strong ability of adsorbing bacteria, significant anti-inflammatory and hemostatic effect, strong ability to inhibit harmful bacteria, high affinity with enamel and dentin, and strong anti-caries function.

Artificial synthesis of nano-hydroxyapatite originated from NASA. Minerals in astronaut's teeth and bones will lose under weightless environment. NASA uses synthetic hydroxyapatite as a means of recovery.

Product Characteristics and Function:

1. New functional material

(1) Environmental functional material
Hydroxyapatite is a new kind of environmental functional material with high adsorption potential, which integrates adsorption, surface filtration and deep filtration.

(2) Humidity sensitive semiconductor material
Ca2+ in hydroxyapatite is very active. It can be used as a porous hydroxyapatite ceramic electronic humidity sensor with wide humidity measuring range, high sensitivity and stable performance.

(3) Bioactive material
Hydroxyapatite is one of the most promising hard tissue substitutes and a very important bone repair material.

2. High efficiency filter core material

(1)  A new type of hydroxyapatite ultra-long nanowires with high efficiency for removing PM2.5 fine particles from air are used as high efficiency filter material in air purifiers, air conditioners and other products.

(2)  Defluorination of drinking water: When high fluorine water contacts with hydroxyapatite defluorination filter material, double reaction of adsorption filtration and ion exchange occurs on the surface of filter material. Fluoride ions in water are adsorbed on the filter material and OH- ions on the surface of filter material are exchanged. The purpose of defluorination is achieved by double-effect physicochemical reaction.

3. New medical material

Hydroxyapatite has excellent biocompatibility and bioactivity. Adding nano-hydroxyapatite to toothpaste has been put into the market in many developed countries, including the United States, Britain, Japan, Korea and so on. It has been welcomed by consumers. At present, many enterprises specializing in toothpaste production in China are vigorously promoting it.

4. Hydroxyapatite, graphene, carbon fibers and other new functional composites have been synthesized to replace the traditional single new materials. The Chinese Academy of Sciences, China Institute of Engineering Physics, Beijing University and other scientific research institutions have made significant breakthroughs.

5.Hydroxyapatite is also widely used as dispersant for new polymer synthetic resins such as EPS, ABS, PMMA and so on.