Transmission electron microscopic study of calcium phosphate formation in supersaturated solutions seeded with apatite

Summary The present study examined crystal growth on enamel and synthetic apatite seed surfaces in dilute supersaturated solutions by means of transmission electron microscopy. At all supersaturations, new growth initially appeared on the ends of the seed crystal. In solutions undersaturated with respect to octacalcium phosphate (OCP), this growth was needlelike in appearance. Above the solubility point for OCP, the growth frequently took the form of thin, platelike crystals. The relevance of these findings to precursor phase formation is discussed.