Fabrication of Porous Bioactive Glass-Ceramics via Decomposition of Natural Fibres

Abstract

Porous bio glass-ceramics were prepared via natural fibres burning-out process. Glass-ceramics were fabricated by controlled crystallization of suitable glass compositions to give required crystalline phase/s. Porous structure was formed alongside during burning-out of natural fibres. Three glass batches were prepared in the SiO 2 -CaO-P 2 O 5 -K 2 O-Na 2 O-CaF 2 glass system, then melted, quenched and milled to give fine glass powders. DTA thermograms for the three glass compositions showed crystallization temperatures between 720 and 760°C and T g ranging between 508 and 645°C. Porous glass-ceramics were characterized for bulk density, phase evolution and microstructures. Different compositions resulted in different bulk densities and phases that crystallized out. Fluorapatite was found in all glass-ceramic samples, which indicated the biocompatibility and bioactivity and the potential future applications. Microstructures were also different from different heat-treated glass compositions, with more uniform pore size and shape in heat-treated samples containing a higher amount of Na 2 O and K 2 O.