Abstract
The nanocrystalline hydroxyfluorapatite (HFA) was synthesized by mechanosynthesis with a planetary ball mill (PM200). The disc to jar speed ratio was constant (equal to 0.5). The effect of different milling parameters such as grinding duration, balls number's, initial powder mass and disc rotation speed were studied to apprehend their effects on both the process of grinding/mechanosynthesis and the synthesis of nanocrystalline HFA. Unlike previous studies in which milling parameters have been independently studied, the effects of these parameters on the phase contents were simultaneously studied. Abdellaoui's model was also introduced to analyse the physical milling parameters effect such as the injected shock power, the shock kinetic energy, the shock frequency and the cumulated kinetic energy on the microstructural properties and synthesized phases contents. The results predicted by the model were compared to experimental ones. This study showed that the optimal conditions for the synthesis of nanocrystalline HFA were reached when the mechanosynthesis was carried out with a speed of 450 rpm, 6 balls, 1.2 g of starting material and 24 h of grinding duration. X-ray diffraction characterization confirmed the purity phase of HFA nanocrystalline powders. (c) 2021 The Society of Powder Technology Japan. Published by Elsevier B.V. and The Society of Powder Technology Japan. All rights reserved.