Published online by Cambridge University Press: 15 February 2011
Calcium phosphate nucleation on colloidal oxide surfaces, such as TiO2, SiO2 and Al2MO3, has been studied as a model system to understand the role of surface chemistry on crystal nucleation kinetics and phase formation. The nucleation induction times have been measured using Constant Composition (CC) technique and calcium phosphate phases formation have been determined mainly by X-ray diffraction. The results indicated TiO2 not only significantly reduces the nucleation induction time and interfacial energy but also stimulates octacalcium phosphate formation over dicalcium phosphate dihydrate. SiO2 and Al2O3 have little effect on both nucleation kinetics and phase formation.