Predicting physical and chemical properties of bioactive glasses from chemical composition. Part 3: In vitro reactivity

In vitro behaviour of thirty glasses ill the system Na(2)O-K(2)O-MgO-CaO-B(2)O(3)-P(2)O(5)-SiO(2) Was studied ill simulated body fluid (SBF) for 4 to 168 h. Concentrations of silicate, calcium and phosphate ions and pH ill SBF were determined and weight loss of the glasses was measured as a function of immersion time. The surface layers formed oil the glasses were studied with SEM/EDXA, The changes ill the solution and on the glass were described as functions of the oxide composition of the glass. The results show that by taking into account changes of several properties of the SBF and the glass itself during immersion, a sound estimation of the ill vitro reactivity of bioactive glasses call be obtained based oil chemical composition of the glass.