Materials reinforcement by ceramic whiskers has been employed for a long time in a variety of industrial applications. Nevertheless, the materials by which these whiskers are commonly made of (carbide and silicon nitride) do not allow their use in biomaterials field due to their high toxicity. Then, it is of interest to synthesize ceramic whiskers which could reinforce biocompatible ceramic and polymeric biomaterials without harming the patients' health. In this manner, the aim of this work is to propose and analyze the limiting process variables of a new synthetic route to produce whiskers of CaSiO3 (wollastonite): a biocompatible, bioactive and readsorbable biomaterial. It was employed the molten salt synthesis at 900 ºC to grow wollastonite crystals which were characterized by X-ray diffraction and scanning electron microscopy. The proposed method was efficient in growing whiskers; however, the dwell time was not sufficient to guarantee a 100% reaction yield, leading to the formation of cristobalite.
wollastonite; molten salt synthesis; whiskers
