Vibrational spectra of phosphate-silicate biomaterials

For substitutive and reconstruction surgery different classes of materials (e.g. metals, polymers, ceramics composites) as implant materials are employed. Among them the ceramics as potentially biologically active materials seem to be most promising for further applications. In presented work the oxide ceramic materials in the Na2O-CaO-Al2O3-P2O5-SiO2 system were obtained. The materials in the glass, glass-ceramics and crystalline form were studied. With IR and Raman spectroscopy the phase composition of these materials was found. With vibrational spectroscopy methods the glassy or crystalline state can be recognized. The short-range structural order of the glass phase was determined also. The most interesting results concern the glass-ceramics materials whose chemical and phase composition indicates its potential biological activity and good enough mechanical properties. (C) 2003 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.