The influence of processing parameters on morphology and granulometry of a wet-milled sol-gel glass powder

A quaternary bioactive sol-gel glass of high silica content was heat treated at different temperatures, and then wet ball milled under different balls-to-powder ratios. A total of sixteen experiments were performed to study in detail the effects of both experimental variables on the structure, morphology, particle size distributions and nitrogen adsorption isotherms. The balls–to–powder ratio exerts a tremendous influence on the final particle size distribution of the powders, while its effects on the pore volume and morphology are minimal. These structural features are mostly governed by the changes in calcination temperature. Therefore, understanding the specific roles of each experimental parameter is of paramount importance towards achieving optimum powders with the desired properties. This work sheds light on the importance of using a suitable combination of these two parameters for tuning the morphology and the granulometry of the sol-gel derived bioactive glass powders.publishe

The role of calcium (source & content) on the in vitro behaviour of sol–gel quaternary glass series

To highlight the effect of salt precursors on the final properties, bioactivity and biocompatibility, five quaternary (Si–Ca–P–Na) glass compositions were successfully prepared through two distinct rapid sol–gel routes; one using acetate salt precursors (A) catalysed by nitric acid, and the other using nitrate salts (N) and citric acid as a catalyst. The sols dried rapidly, and stabilised at 550 & 800 °C to be characterised by X–ray diffraction (XRD), Magic angle spinning–Nuclear magnetic resonance (29Si MAS–NMR) and Fourier transform infra–red spectroscopy (FTIR). Upon immersion in simulated body fluid (SBF), hydroxyapatite (HAp) formation was initially enhanced by increasing Ca–content up to 40 mol%, but the formation of calcite was favoured with further increments of Ca to 45 and 48 mol%. The A–glasses exhibited lower density and lower network connectivity compared with N–glasses. The chemical surface modifications after 4 h in SBF were more evident for N–glasses in comparison to A–glasses. The biocompatibility is favoured for the samples treated at 800 °C and for the samples of the higher silica contents.publishe

The influence of processing parameters on morphology and granulometry of a wet-milled sol-gel glass powder

A quaternary bioactive sol-gel glass of high silica content was heat treated at different temperatures, and then wet ball milled under different balls-to-powder ratios. A total of sixteen experiments were performed to study in detail the effects of both experimental variables on the structure, morphology, particle size distributions and nitrogen adsorption isotherms. The balls–to–powder ratio exerts a tremendous influence on the final particle size distribution of the powders, while its effects on the pore volume and morphology are minimal. These structural features are mostly governed by the changes in calcination temperature. Therefore, understanding the specific roles of each experimental parameter is of paramount importance towards achieving optimum powders with the desired properties. This work sheds light on the importance of using a suitable combination of these two parameters for tuning the morphology and the granulometry of the sol-gel derived bioactive glass powders.publishe

The effect of functional ions (Y3+, F-, Ti4+) on the structure, sintering and crystallization of diopside-calcium pyrophosphate bioglasses

The effects of three functional ions (yttrium Y3+, fluorine titanium Ti4+) on the glass forming ability, sintering, crystallization, and thermo-physical properties of glasses and glass-ceramics were studied in a diopside-calcium pyrophosphate (90% CaMgSi2O6-10% Ca2P2O7) system. Three different percentages (1, 3 and 5 wt%) for each additive were tested. The structural features of glasses were assessed through FT-IR (Fourier Transform infra -red spectroscopy) and Si-29 and P-31 NMR (nuclear magnetic resonance), showing that the silicate network in all the investigated glasses is predominantly coordinated in Q(2) (Si) units, while phosphorus tends to remain in the orthophosphate (Q) environment. All glasses exhibited fast rates of biomineralization, making them promising candidates for biomedical applications. The sintering and crystallization behaviours of the glass powders were studied by differential thermal analysis (DTA), while the coefficient of thermal expansion (CTE) was determined by dilatometry. Glass transition temperature (Tg) values of all doped glasses were lower than the parent glass, while CTE values decreased with initial addition (1 wt%), of dopants before exhibiting an increase with further addition. In Y-doped glasses, a gradual increase was seen in the values of maximum crystallization peak temperature, Tp, up to 3 wt%, while an opposite trend was observed in Ti-doped glasses, showing an enhancement of the stability of the Y-doped glasses against devitrification. F-doped glasses exhibited a similar trend. Crystalline phase evolution was analysed by X-ray diffraction (XRD), and amorphous glass were obtained by sintering powder compacts from all the glasses at 800 degrees C for 1 h. (C) 2016 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved