A new fabrication technique of beta-tricalcium phosphate (beta-TCP) has been investigated by the microwave-assisted co-precipitation method and subsequent calcinations. The synthesized powders were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform-infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), thermogravimetry-differential thermal analysis (TG-DTA), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The calcium/phosphorous atomic ratio of the as-dried sample was determined by energy dispersive analysis of X-rays (EDAX). The results showed that high purity and well-crystallized beta-TCP powders could be obtained in a rapid way by microwave processing. The formation process of beta-TCP was explained based on the TG-DTA analysis. The effects of microwave irradiation on the reaction mechanism and reaction rate were preliminarily analyzed in the paper. (C) 2011 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.