Effect of sintering temperature on mechanical and bioactivity properties of bioactive glass and cordierite composite

Abstract

In this study, a composite of bioactive glass (BG) and cordierite (BG-cord) was proposed to increase the strength and bioactivity of BG. Both BG and cordierite were separately synthesized with the method of glass melting, then, they were used to fabricate BG-cord with a variation of sintering temperature (600 to 1000 °C). The highest diametral tensile strength (DTS=30.54 MPa) was shown by the BG-cord with sintering temperature at 925 ºC. Bioactivity tests were conducted by soaking in Hank's balanced salt solution (HBSS) for 7, 14, and 21 days. Apatite formation was examined by using a scanning electron microscope. The results showed that the sample showed good bioactivity with regards to the formation of apatite on the samples, confirmed by the detection of carbonate (C-O) and phosphate (P-O) absorption peaks by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and crystalline peaks in the X-ray diffraction pattern.