Effect of Composition and Sintering Temperature on the Structure and Properties of Porous Bioactive Glass Scaffolds

Abstract

Calcium phosphate glasses have a potential use as bone substituting applications, because of their chemical composition is closely similar to that of natural bone. The implant glass can be slowly replaced by regenerating tissue and has good biocompatibility and non-toxicity. In this experimental study, porous bioglass-ceramics were prepared via natural fibers (wood dust) burning-out process. Three glass batches were prepared in the ZrO2/Al2O3-CaO-P2O5 glass system, then melted, quenched and milled to give fine glass powders. Bioglass composites were sintered in a furnace at different sintering temperatures (750 degrees C, 850 degrees C and 950 degrees C) for 3 hours. The sintered bioglass samples were analyzed by field emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM), energy-dispersive spectroscopy (EDS) and X-ray diffraction (XRD) for further investigation of grain morphology, shape, size and phase formation. The bulk density, the apparent porosity and water absorption of the sintered samples were measured using the Archimedes' principle. The mechanical properties (micro-hardness in this case) and in-vitro dissolution behavior of those bioglasses were investigated and discussed.