Disclosed herein are a particle production method whereby spherical fine
particles of a crystalline calcium phosphate-based compound can be
efficiently produced at low cost, fine particles (especially, spherical
particles) with good flowability produced by the particle production
method, and a high-quality sintered body obtained by sintering a molded
body of the particles. The particle production method comprises a first
step of mixing a first substance containing phosphorus and a second
substance containing calcium so that the phosphorus and the calcium are
present in a predetermined mole ratio and feeding, into a heated
atmosphere, droplets of a slurry containing an amorphous reaction
product, obtained by the reaction between the first substance and the
second substance, to bring the reaction product into a gaseous state; and
a second step of crystallizing the reaction product in the gaseous state
to obtain particles mainly composed of a calcium phosphate-based compound
containing phosphorus and calcium in the predetermined mole ratio. The
heated atmosphere preferably contains plasma produced by ionization of an
ambient gas.