Solid solutions between β‐Ca3(PO4)2 and sodium‐containing whitlockite

Mixtures of CaHPO4, CaCO3, and Na2CO3 were heated at 870°C under steam or under dry CO2 until phase composition and weight were constant. According to chemical analysis and X‐ray diffractometry the stability field of the β‐Ca3(PO4)2 phase is limited by the molar P/Ca ratio of 0.664 ± 0.003 and 0.675 ± 0.010 irrespective of the partial water vapour pressure. A continuous series of solid solutions was found between β‐Ca3(PO4)2 and a new whitlockite with the composition Ca10Na(PO4)7. The IR spectrum of these solid solutions shows that the point symmetry of the PO4 groups and their environment increases with increasing sodium content. This is in agreement with data published about the structure of β‐Ca3(PO4)2 and whitlockite. The composition of these solid solutions suggests that Na+ ions can replace H+ ions in the whitlockite structure. Carbonate and pyrophosphate ions are not incorporated in these whitlockites.