| abstract |
Asbestiform crystalline calcium M phosphate, where M is sodium or lithium, having a length to average diameter ratio of at least 5:1, can be prepared by forming a melt of a source of oxygen, calcium, phosphorus and M having a mole ratio of about 15 percent to about 30 percent M 2 O, about 48 percent to about 60 percent P 2 O 5 and about 20 percent to about 37 percent CaO, cooling the melt within the range of about 500° C. to about 750° C. for a sufficient time to permit blocks of calcium M phosphate to form, and fiberizing the blocks into the asbestiform crystals. Such asbestiform crystalline calcium M phosphates are useful to prepare composites of organic polymeric materials. |