NOVEL PHOSPHATE GLASSES WITH DIFFERENT AMOUNTS OF TiO2 FOR BIOMEDICAL APPLICATIONS: DISSOLUTION TESTS AND PROOF OF CONCEPT OF FIBRE DRAWING

A range of phosphate glasses with different solubilities and with suitable characteristics to be drawn into fibres have been developed. Three glasses with molar compositions 50P2O5-30CaO-9Na2O-3SiO2-3MgO-(5-x)K2O-xTiO2 (x = 0, 2.5, 5) were prepared and characterised in terms of thermal properties, d...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Materials Science and Engineering C: Biomimetic and Supramolecular Systems 2011-03, Vol.31 (2), p.434-442
Main Authors: Vitale-Brovarone, C, Novajra, G, Milanese, D, Lousteau, J, Knowles, J C
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Crystallization
Density
Dissolution
Fibers
Fibres
Glass
Titanium dioxide
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Summary:A range of phosphate glasses with different solubilities and with suitable characteristics to be drawn into fibres have been developed. Three glasses with molar compositions 50P2O5-30CaO-9Na2O-3SiO2-3MgO-(5-x)K2O-xTiO2 (x = 0, 2.5, 5) were prepared and characterised in terms of thermal properties, density and dissolution rate. The dissolution tests were conducted in bi-distilled water and citric acid buffer solutions in order to study the influence of pH on the dissolution process. TiO2 had a stabilising effect on the glass, causing an increase in the glass transition temperature and density and a decrease in the glass dissolution rate. An acidic medium strongly enhanced the glass dissolution. The pH decrease, caused by the acidic degradation products, and the consequent enhancement of the glass weight loss were attenuated with increasing TiO2. The fabrication of glass fibres using a preform drawing approach was investigated. The control and versatility of the process were demonstrated by the production of several tens of metres of fibre with diameters ranging from 37 plus or minus 2 micron up to 173 plus or minus 7 micron. Preliminary analysis revealed pristine fibres, free of crystallisation, showing adequate flexibility for prospective biomedical applications.
ISSN:0928-4931
DOI:10.1016/j.msec.2010.11.001