Mineral Trioxide Aggregate (MTA)

In Tricalcium silicate (Ca3SiO5), Alite is an impure form. It can be acquired from naturally occurring limestone and diatomaceous earth, a siliceous sedimentary rock. It is one of a group of compounds that can be manufactured by reacting calcium oxide and silica in distinct ratios.

It is used in fireproofing as calcium silicate brick or in roof tiles and also in passive fire protection. Calcium-silicate shows high-performance boards because they retain their excellent dimensional stability even in damp and humid conditions. They can be installed at an early stage in the construction program, before wet trades are completed and the building is weather-tight. Manufacturers and installers of calcium silicate in passive fire protection often also install firestops.

Calcium silicate is also called as slag, is formed when molten iron is create from iron ore, silicon dioxide and calcium carbonate in a blast furnace. It is used in the remediation of acid mine drainage (AMD) on active and passive mine sites when this material is processed into a highly refined, re-purposed calcium silicate aggregate. It neutralizes active acidity in AMD systems by separating free hydrogen ions from the bulk solution, thereby increasing pH.

Tricalcium silicate hydrates to produce crystalline calcium hydroxide and calcium-silicate-hydrates (C-S-H) nanocrystalline gel. At the nanoscale, this hydration reaction is poorly understood. It is the major accountable for the strength and durability of the resulting mortars and concretes.

Tricalcium silicate-based materials are gaining popularity for dental procedures. Tricalcium silicate-based materials had higher flow, higher radiopacity and lower film thickness than other MTA-type products