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The kinetic study for the synthesis of Fluorapatite has been done using the thermogravimetric technique under non-isothermal conditions and at four heating rates of 5, 10, 15 and 20 °C. Both model free and model-fitting methods were used to investigate kinetic parameters. Calcium oxide, phosphorus pentoxide and calcium fluoride were used as the precursor materials. The activation energy values were calculated through model-fitting and isoconversional methods and were used to predict the reaction model and pre-exponential factor. In this case several techniques were considered such as master plots and compensation effects. The results indicated that the reaction mechanism was chemically controlled with second and third order reaction models in the whole range of conversion which the activation energy varied from 25 to 43 kJ/mol.

Transparent non-cubic hexagonal fluorapatite (Ca 10 (PO 4 ) 5 F 2 : FAP) ceramics with an average grain size of approximately 100 nm are fabricated. The laser operation with slope efficiency over 8% was achieved from AR-coated Yb:FAP ceramics.

Carbonate-bearing fluorapatite rocks occur at over 30 globally distributed carbonatite complexes and represent a substantial potential supply of phosphorus for the fertiliser industry. However, the process(es) involved in forming carbonate-bearing fluorapatite at some carbonatites remain equivocal, with both hydrothermal and weathering mechanisms inferred. In this contribution, we compare the paragenesis and trace element contents of carbonate-bearing fluorapatite rocks from the Kovdor, Sokli, Bukusu, Catalão I and Glenover carbonatites in order to further understand their origin, as well as to comment upon the concentration of elements that may be deleterious to fertiliser production. The paragenesis of apatite from each deposit is broadly equivalent, comprising residual magmatic grains overgrown by several different stages of carbonate-bearing fluorapatite. The first forms epitactic overgrowths on residual magmatic grains, followed by the formation of massive apatite which, in turn, is cross-cut by late euhedral and colloform apatite generations. Compositionally, the paragenetic sequence corresponds to a substantial decrease in the concentration of rare earth elements (REE), Sr, Na and Th, with an increase in U and Cd. The carbonate-bearing fluorapatite exhibits a negative Ce anomaly, attributed to oxic conditions in a surficial environment and, in combination with the textural and compositional commonality, supports a weathering origin for these rocks. Carbonate-bearing fluorapatite has Th contents which are several orders of magnitude lower than magmatic apatite grains, potentially making such apatite a more environmentally attractive feedstock for the fertiliser industry. Uranium and cadmium contents are higher in carbonate-bearing fluorapatite than magmatic carbonatite apatite, but are much lower than most marine phosphorites.

Calcium phosphate, due to its similarity to the inorganic fraction of mineralized tissues, has played a key role in many areas of medicine, in particular, regenerative medicine and orthopedics. It has also found application in conservative dentistry and dental surgery, in particular, as components of toothpaste and mouth rinse, coatings of dental implants, cements, and bone substitute materials for the restoration of cavities in maxillofacial surgery. In dental applications, the most important role is played by hydroxyapatite and fluorapatite, i.e., calcium phosphates characterized by the highest chemical stability and very low solubility. This paper presents the role of both apatites in dentistry and a review of recent achievements in the field of the application of these materials.

Fluorapatite glass-ceramics (FGC) have been widely used in dental ceramics due to their excellent aesthetic properties and biocompatibility. In recent years, new synthesis methods, forming technologies, and the continuous optimization of performance attributes have driven the application of FGC in dental veneers, coatings, composites, and other restorations. This review summarizes the current research and applications of this material in the dental field and looks forward to its future optimization directions. The article focuses on five aspects: the development of preparation techniques for FGC; advances in their application in dental restoration shaping technologies; the performance advantages and limitations of these materials as dental materials; the current application status in veneers, coatings, composites, and other restorations; as well as the challenges in the current applications and prospects. In addition, additive manufacturing technology shows extremely broad application potential in FGC molding and applications. This review is hoped to provide strong guidance for the further application of FGC in the dental field, promoting the integration of related research and industry upgrades better to meet the needs of clinical practice and patients.

In recent years, apatite-based materials have garnered significant interest, particularly for applications in tissue engineering. Apatite is most commonly employed as a coating for metallic implants, as a component in composite materials, and as scaffolds for bone and dental tissue regeneration. Among its various forms, hydroxyapatite (HAP) is the most widely used, owing to its natural occurrence in human and animal hard tissues. An emerging area of research involves the use of fluoride-substituted apatite, particularly fluorapatite (FAP), which can serve as a direct fluoride source at the implant site, potentially offering several biological and therapeutic advantages. However, substituting HAP with FAP may lead to unforeseen changes in material behavior due to the differing physicochemical properties of these two calcium phosphate phases. This study investigates the effects of replacing hydroxyapatite with fluorapatite in ceramic–polymer composite materials incorporating β-1,3-glucan as a bioactive polymeric binder. The β-1,3-glucan polysaccharide was selected for its proven biocompatibility, biodegradability, and ability to form stable hydrogels that promote cellular interactions. Nitrogen adsorption analysis revealed that FAP/glucan composites had a significantly lower specific surface area (0.5 m2/g) and total pore volume (0.002 cm3/g) compared to HAP/glucan composites (14.15 m2/g and 0.03 cm3/g, respectively), indicating enhanced ceramic–polymer interactions in fluoride-containing systems. Optical profilometry measurements showed statistically significant differences in profile parameters (e.g., Rp: 134 μm for HAP/glucan vs. 352 μm for FAP/glucan), although average roughness (Ra) remained similar (34.1 vs. 27.6 μm, respectively). Microscopic evaluation showed that FAP/glucan composites had smaller particle sizes (1 μm) than their HAP counterparts (2 μm), despite larger primary crystal sizes in FAP, as confirmed by TEM. XRD analysis indicated structural differences between the apatites, with FAP exhibiting a reduced unit cell volume (524.6 Å3) compared to HAP (528.2 Å3), due to substitution of hydroxyl groups with fluoride ions. Spectroscopic analyses (FTIR, Raman, 31P NMR) confirmed chemical shifts associated with fluorine incorporation and revealed distinct ceramic–polymer interfacial behaviors, including an upfield shift of PO43− bands (964 cm−1 in FAP vs. 961 cm−1 in HAP) and OH vibration shifts (3537 cm−1 in FAP vs. 3573 cm−1 in HAP). The glucan polymer showed different hydrogen bonding patterns when combined with FAP versus HAP, as evidenced by shifts in polymer-specific bands at 888 cm−1 and 1157 cm−1, demonstrating that fluoride substitution significantly influences ceramic–polymer interactions in these bioactive composite systems.

Phosphate deposits are found in the Khormuj anticline at the end of the Folded Zagros Zone of Iran and are enriched in REE and trace metals. Field surveys, petrography, X-ray diffraction and whole-rock geochemistry were used to determine the petrogenesis of these phosphate deposits and evaluate the mechanisms of trace metal enrichment. Khormuj anticline phosphate layers are hosted by carbonate rocks of the Pabdeh Formation (Lower Paleocene–Oligocene). The phosphatic layers are composed of phosphorus grainstone–packstone with microfossils and contain green glauconite. Whole-rock compositions of phosphates indicate a minimal detrital component and enrichment of HREE and U. These elements are not enriched in the limestone units that overlie and underlie the phosphate layers. Overall, the textures and trace-element compositions of phosphate layers are interpreted to represent accumulation on a basin margin carbonate ramp, in the reduced and suboxic-to-anoxic zone, with low detrital input but occasional high-energy erosional events. Upwelling played a fundamental role in the deposition of the sandy glauconite-bearing phosphate layers. Phosphate mineralization has syngenetic, diagenetic, and epigenetic components. Positive correlations between P2O5 and REE, U and other trace elements suggest that cation substitution into carbonate fluorapatite and not ion adsorption is the dominant mechanism for metal enrichment in these phosphates. REE patterns in these phosphate layers show strong negative Ce anomalies, positive Eu and Y anomalies, and high La/Yb ratios (> 10). Yttrium versus (La/Nd)N ratios are consistent with seawater and have been affected by diagenesis. These elevated ratios suggest that the phosphates are relatively enriched in both the LREE and HREE. This enrichment is related to their marine origin, and weathering had no effect on the phosphate horizons. This research shows that marine phosphates have a high potential to preferentially fractionate the HREE and U and could represent a potential source of these metals in the future.

Highly optically transparent polycrystalline fluorapatite ceramics with hexagonal crystal structures were fabricated via a liquid-phase synthesis of fluorapatite powder, followed by spark plasma sintering (SPS). The effect of sintering temperature, as observed using a thermopile, on the optical transmittance and microstructure of the ceramics was investigated in order to determine suitable sintering conditions. As a result, high optical transmittance was obtained in the SPS temperature range of 950–1100 °C. The highest optical transmittance was obtained for the ceramic sample sintered at 1000 °C, and its average grain size was evaluated at only 134 nm. The grain size dramatically increased with temperature, and the ceramics became translucent at SPS temperatures above 1200 °C. The mechanical and thermal properties of the ceramics were measured to evaluate the thermal shock parameter, which was found to be comparable to or slightly smaller than that of single-crystal fluorapatite. This transparent polycrystalline fluorapatite ceramic material should prove useful in a wide range of applications, for example as a biomaterial or optical/laser material, in the future. Furthermore, the knowledge obtained in this study should help to promote the application of this ceramic material.

Natural phosphate (NP) and synthetic fluorapatite phosphate (SFAP) were proposed as stable, inexpensive, readily available and recyclable catalysts for the condensation of 1,2-diamines with 1,2-dicarbonyls in methanol to afford quinoxaline at room temperature. NP provided as high as 92–99% yield for quinoxalines in short reaction times (i.e., 1–45 min), while SFAP created quinoxalines with 87–97% yield in 60–120 min. From the chemical analyses, X-ray fluoresecency, X-ray diffraction, energy dispersive X-ray and Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy methods, two main phases (CaO, P2O5) appeared in NP together with other low content phases (SiO2, Fe2O3). Compared to other phases, apatite (CaO and P2O5 as Ca10(PO4)6) played a major role in the catalytic activity of NP. SFAP with similar Ca/P atomic ratio showed a relatively lower catalytic activity than NP for the condensation of 1,2-diamine with 1,2-dicarbonyl in methanol at ambient temperature. To investigate the recyclability of catalysts, the surface properties of NP and 6-recycled NP were investigated using scanning electron microscopy, energy dispersive X-ray and Brunauer–Emmett–Teller and Barrett–Joyner–Halenda methods. Some differences were observed in NP and 6-recycled NP’s particle size, surface area, the volume and size of pores, and the content of elements; nevertheless, the use–reuse process did not noticeably change the catalytic property of NP.

Laser powder bed fusion (L-PBF) has attracted great interest in recent years due to its ability to produce intricate parts beyond the capabilities of traditional manufacturing processes. L-PBF processed biomedical implants are usually made of commercial pure titanium (CP-Ti) or its alloys. However, both alloys are naturally bio-inert, and thus reduce the formation of apatite as implants are put into the human body. Accordingly, in an attempt to improve the bioactivity of the materials used for making orthopedic implants, the present study decomposed fluorapatite material (FA, (Ca10(PO4)6F2)) into the form of nano-powder and mixed this powder with CP-Ti powder in two different ratios (99%Ti + 1%FA (Ti-1%FA) and 98%Ti + 2%FA (Ti-2%FA)) to form powder material for the L-PBF process. Experimental trials were conducted to establish the optimal processing conditions (i.e., laser power, scanning speed and hatching space) of the L-PBF process for the two powder mixtures and the original CP-Ti powder with no FA addition. The optimal parameters were then used to produce tensile test specimens in order to evaluate the mechanical properties of the different samples. The hardness of the various samples was also examined by micro-Vickers hardness tests. The tensile strength of the Ti-1%FA sample (850 MPa) was found to be far higher than that of the CP-Ti sample (513 MPa). Furthermore, the yield strength of the Ti-1%FA sample (785 MPa) was also much higher than that of the CP-Ti sample (472 MPa). However, the elongation of the Ti-1%FA sample (6.27 %) was significantly lower than that of the CP-Ti sample (16.17%). Finally, the hardness values of the Ti-1%FA and Ti-2%FA samples were around 63.8% and 109.4%, respectively, higher than that of the CP-Ti sample.