Preparation of tricalcium silicate and investigation of hydrated cement

Tricalcium silicate cement (TSC) has been widely used in dental materials because of its self-setting behavior, good bioactivity, biocompatibility, osteoinductivity, and antibacterial effect. Tricalcium silicate (C3S) powder was prepared by Pechini technique with a calcining temperature of 1300 degrees C for 3 h. The influence of liquid/powder (L/P) rate on the setting time and the mechanical property of TSC was studied. Characterization methods including XRD, FTIR, SEM-EDS, TEM, and ICP-AES were utilized to study the properties of C3S powder and its hydrated cement. The bioactivity and biocompatibility of the cement were investigated by soaking test and cell culture, respectively. The results show that the L/P rate plays an important role in the setting time and the compressive strength of TSC. The surface of TSC was covered by hydroxyapatite deposition during the immersion experiment and the cells attachment on the surface of TSC was well, which indicated that TSC has good bioactivity and biocompatibility. In addition, TSC has excellent antibacterial properties against Staphylococcus aureus. In conclusion, TSC is a promising candidate for root canal filling materials.