Robustness study of the tricalcium phosphate synthesis by using Taguchi's approach

In this work we propose a contribution for the optimization of the tricalcium phosphate synthesis by a double decomposition with a Ca/P ratio equal to 1.5, using Taguchi's approach in the methodology of experiment design. We used a model involving four factors, namely the pH of the reaction, the concentration of Ca2+ ions, the temperature and the reaction time. We reduced the number of factors by subtracting the temperature, because it varies randomly in its range of variation. So we have developed a much simpler and more robust model by a double optimization. It consists in finding a configuration of the retained factors to synthesize a product with a Ca/P equal to 1.5 with the minimum of dispersion. We propose a synthesis process insensitive to random variations in temperature in its field of experimental variation defined previously. The synthesis process of the tricalcium phosphate is robust and insensitive on the temperature in the range of variation that was analyzed. The resolution of the mathematical model proposes different ways for this synthesis by a factorial variation of the three remaining factors. The proposed mathematical model is linear and efficient with very satisfactory statistical indicators.