SPHERULITIC GROWTH OF APATITE IN A GLASS CERAMIC SYSTEM

Apatite-containing materials are potentially important for medical implants because they are usually bioactive; bony tissue can bond directly on to the surgical implant, so giving good fixation. In this work, P//2O//5 has been used as a nucleating agent for the controlled crystallization of glasses in the system Na//2O//5 has been used as a nucleating agent for the controlled crystallization of glasses in the system Na//2O-CaO-Al//2O//3-SiO//2. This study has clearly shown that a glass-ceramic, containing both apatite and wollastonite as crystalline phases, may be produced in the studied system. The microstructure and, consequently, the mechanical properties of the glass-ceramics from this system can be modified by adjustment of the heat-treatment and composition.