Sintered hydroxyapatite (HA) and p-tricalcium phosphate (beta-TCP), that analogous to the constituent of human hard tissues, are the most common bio-ceramics for bone substitute. However, the higher temperature preparation lose the functional groups for bioactivity and closed the micropores without any interconnection that hampere the body fluid transportation and angiogenesis during regeneration. Furthermore, the sinter ceramics with block and fixed size is difficult to fit non-regular defect area. In this study, a composite of HA/beta-TCP will be prepared by mixing Ca(H2PO4)(2)-H2O and CaCO3 and distilled water as a bone cement. The slurry dough is fast setting and can be fit in any size and shape of the defect. The final product of setting cement will have a micropores and macropores for fluid transportation and tissue regeneration. The molar ratio of Ca(H2PO4)(2) H2O and CaCO is in the range of 1.5 and 2.0 the mechanism of faster setting time of the prepared cement will be elucidated by in terms of the thermal properties and thermal decomposition kinetic parameters, which are going to be investigated by non-isothermal DTA/TG techniques and SEM, respectively. (C) 2002 Published by Elsevier Science B.V.