Analysis of apatite layers on glass-ceramic particulate using FTIR and FT-Raman spectroscopy

A nucleation and crystallization schedule was adapted to produce 40% crysta lline Bioglass(R) ceramic particulates. These particles were placed in a dy namic environment in a simulated physiologic solution (SBF-9) for time peri ods ranging from 10 min to 7 days. Fourier transform Raman spectroscopy (FT -Raman) and infrared spectroscopy (ETIR) were used to analyze the apatite l ayer formation on the particulates. FTIR determined that amorphous apatite formation took place within 2 h, with the appearance of crystalline apatite in 14 h. The vibrational frequencies obtained through FT-Raman were equiva lent to those obtained using FTIR. These analyses showed that a fully cryst allized apatite layer was present on the particulate after 3 days of exposu re in SBF solution. These findings are consistent with those associated wit h amorphous Bioglass(R) particles. (C) 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.