Materials in the CaO-K2O-SO3-H2O System Based on Powder Mixtures including Calciolangbeinite K2Ca2(SO4)3 and Calcium Sulfate Anhydrite CaSO4

Abstract

Materials (cement stone samples) in the CaO-K2O-SO3-H2O system with the target phase compositions, including syngenite K2Ca(SO4)2·H2O and calcium sulfate dihydrate CaSO4·2H2O, were prepared from powder mixtures of calcium sulfate anhydrite CaSO4, and/or calciolangbeinite K2Ca2(SO4)3, and potassium sulfate K2SO4 via hydration reactions at a water/powder ratio within an interval of 0.5–0.9. It was revealed that samples with contents of 25, 50, 75 and 100 mol% of syngenite K2Ca(SO4)2·H2O demonstrated a nonlinear dependence of their respective microstructures on their phase compositions. The microstructures of samples with phase compositions of 25 and 75 mol% of syngenite K2Ca(SO4)2·H2O consisted of pillar crystals. The microstructures of samples with phase compositions of 50 and 100 mol% of syngenite K2Ca(SO4)2·H2O consisted of plate crystals. An explanation of microstructure formation was set forth, taking into account equilibria of the dissolution–crystallization processes during cement stone formation. Materials obtained in the CaO-K2O-SO3-H2O system consisting of biocompatible and resorbable (soluble in water) phases can be recommended for testing as potential substances for bone defect treatments.