abstract
Novel quaternary (67Si-24Ca-10Na-8P) glass powders were successfully synthesised by sol-gel followed by two alternative drying schedules, conventional drying (CD) and an innovative fast drying (FD) process (200 times quicker). The glasses were thermally stabilised at 550 degrees C, and then characterised by different complementary techniques. The samples showed very similar silica network structures, with the FD one having slightly lower degree of polymerisation than the CD sample. This less polymerised, more open, network structure exhibited an improved bioactivity in simulated body fluid (SBF), probably also due to the apparent presence of poorly crystalline HAp in the stabilised glass powder. In contrast, the CD glass exhibited an unwanted secondary crystalline silica phase. Both glasses showed excellent biomineralisation upon immersion in SBF, being more pronounced in the case of FD with clear evidence of HAp formation after 4 h, while equivalent signs in the CD samples were only noticed after longer immersion periods between 8 h and 1 week.
keywords
CARBONATED HYDROXYAPATITE; INFRARED-SPECTROSCOPY; GLASS; EVOLUTION; SPECTRA; POWDERS; FTIR
subject category
Materials Science
authors
Ben-Arfa, BAE; Salvado, IMM; Ferreira, JMF; Pullar, RC
our authors
Basam Abobaker Emhmed Ben-Arfa
Researcher
Isabel Margarida Miranda Salvado
Associate Professor
José Maria da Fonte Ferreira
Retired Professor
Rob Pullar
CollaboratorGroups
G4 - Renewable Materials and Circular Economy
G5 - Biomimetic, Biological and Living Materials
acknowledgements
R.C. Pullar wishes to thank the FCT (Fundacao para a Ciencia e a Tecnologia) Grant IF/00681/2015 for supporting this work. This work was developed in the scope of the project CICECO-Aveiro Institute of Materials (Ref. PCT UID/CTM/50011/2013), financed by national funds through the FCT/MEC and when applicable co-financed by FEDER under the PT2020 Partnership Agreement.