In vitro bioactivity of glass and glass-ceramics of the 3CaO center dot P2O5-CaO center dot SiO2-CaO center dot MgO center dot 2SiO(2) system

A glass of nominal composition (wt%) 40.0 CaO-34.5 SiO2-16.5 P2O2-8.5 MgO-0 .5 CaF2 has been obtained (G13). The glass showed in vitro bioactivity evid enced by the formation on its surface of a calcium phosphate-rich layer whe n soaked in a solution with ionic composition analogous to human plasma. By thermal treatments of G13, a glass-ceramic (GC13) containing apatite, diop side, althausite and akermanite as crystalline phases was developed. GC13 a s-made did not show in vitro bioactivity. However, after chemical treatment of GC13 with 1 M HCl (GC13-HCl), the in vitro studies showed the formation of an apatite-like layer covering certain areas of the material surface. T he influence of both chemical and morphological factors on the in vitro bio activity has been studied. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserv ed.