Dissolution of bioactive glasses: The effects of crystallinity coupled with stress

Fixing the chemical composition of bioactive ceramic glass does not dictate biological response. Processing history can alter the microstructure, phase composition, degree of crystallinity, and residual stress-all of which can contribute to mechanical performance and bioactive response. This paper discusses effects of thermal and mechanical processing performed on bioactive glass 45S5 with regard to the micro-structural changes that occur during in vitro immersion, and how such changes can be related to bioactivity with respect to implant materials. The underlying theme is the relationship between mechanical properties, stress, microstructure, and bioactivity, and how to achieve optimization.