Exploring a new Portland cement-free calcium silicate cement —Part 1: Synthesis of dicalcium and tricalcium silicate

Abstract

Mineral trioxide aggregate cement is an excellent pulp-capping material; however, its base Portland cement contains highly toxic elements and is expensive. This study aimed to explore the possibility of using calcium silicate cement without Portland cement. Synthesis was attempted via firing using calcium silicate (CS), as the base material, and calcium oxide (CA). According to the chemical reaction, they were weighed and sintered in an electric furnace at a sintering temperature of 1,300ºC based on the results of thermogravimetric differential thermal analysis. The powder composition after firing was examined by X-ray diffraction analyses. Compressive tests were performed using a universal testing machine. The sintered powders were confirmed as dicalcium silicate (CS2) and tricalcium silicate (CS3); however, some peaks were detected and their compressive strengths were lower than that of CS. These results suggest that CS2 and CS3 were successfully synthesized from a mixture of CA and CS.