Investigation of Bioactivity of Silicate Glass-Ceramics in the System SiO2-Na2O-CaO-P2O5 Containing MgO and TiO2

Silicate bioglass-ceramics with incorporation of small TiO2 and MgO were prepared using an appropriate two-step heat treatment for controlled crystallization defined by differential thermal analysis (DTA). Identification and quantification of crystalline phases precipitated from the silicate glasses were done by X-ray diffraction. The X-ray diffraction (XRD) patterns of the samples showed the presence of sodium calcium silicate Na2Ca2Si3O9 as the main crystalline phase. The evolution of the XRD peaks with the addition of MgO and TiO2 showed the formation of a new crystalline calcium phosphate phase, Ca4P2O9. Investigation of in vitro bioactivity of the prepared glass-ceramics was done by the infrared reflection spectra of the samples after immersion in simulated body fluid (SBF) for different periods at 37 degrees C. The results showed that an apatite layer was formed on the surface of the sample containing MgO while samples containing TiO2 did not form the apatite layer.