Synthesizing a Bone Ash Substitute Using Locally Available Eppawala Apatite
No Thumbnail Available
Date
2020
Authors
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Uva Wellassa University of Sri Lanka
Abstract
Bone china is considered as the highest-grade porcelain with incomparable features due to
the presence of bone ash as its main ingredient. But, as bone ash is sourced from animal
bones; compositional variations, presence of high iron contents, and dissent of the
vegetarians have become significant issues. Further, the local mineral resources with
conformable compositions to bone ash have drawn less attention. So, an attempt was
taken to synthesize a bone ash substitute using locally available Eppawala Apatite. Three
products were synthesized by heat-treating apatite with calcium hydroxide (Ca(OH)2) at
different temperatures; 700, 800, and 900 0C. The samples were characterized by Fourier
Transform Infrared (FTIR), X-Ray Diffraction (XRD) and X-Ray Florescence (XRF)
analytical techniques. A test ceramic ware was manufactured using the synthesized
product to investigate its practical viability. A reference ceramic ware was produced using
commercially available bone ash. The FTIR spectrums indicated that all the synthesized
samples have the characteristic PO4
3-
and OHfunctional groups, of commercially
available bone ash. The XRD analysis revealed that the samples have the inherent
hexagonal crystal structure. The XRF analysis suggested that the samples have
appropriate elemental compositions. Even though it is attainable to synthesize bone ash at
700, 800, 900 0C, the product that was heat-treated to 9000C, has the highest purity level
with the best crystallinity and has the most appropriate elemental composition with least
amounts of fluorine, chlorine, and iron. Also, the heavy metal free product could be
denoted as safer, inexpensive raw material. The test ceramic ware expressed similar
whiteness levels and higher strength compared to the reference ceramic ware. So, it can
be suggested that it is possible to synthesize a bone ash substitute by treating Eppawala
Apatite with Ca(OH)2 at 900 0C.
Keywords: Bone china, Bone ash, Eppawala Apatite
Description
Keywords
Materials Sciences, Mineral Sciences, Eppawala Apatite