Non-Isothermal Devitrification Study of Wollastonite-Tricalcium Phosphate Bioeutectic® Glass

This document describes and discusses the non-isothermal devitrification process of the wollastonite-tricalcium phosphate (W-TCP) eutectic glass. This eutectic glass has been studied in situ, from room temperature up to 1375 °C, by Neutron Diffractometry (ND) in vacuum. The data obtained were complemented and compared with those performed on ambient atmosphere by Differential Thermal Analysis (DTA) and with those of samples fired in air, at selected temperatures, and then cooled down and subsequently studied by laboratory X-ray Powder Diffraction (LXRD) and Field Emission Scanning Electron Microscopy (FE-SEM) fitted with Energy X-Ray Dispersive Spectroscopy (EDS). Selected samples have been investigated by quantitative full-phase analysis (including the amorphous content) using the Rietveld method. The experimental evidence indicates that the devitrification of W-TCP eutectic glass, begins at ~870°C, with the crystallization of a Ca-deficient apatite phase (Ca9.92(P5.85O23.54)(OH)2.03 (H2O)2.194) followed by wollastonite-2M (-CaSiO3) crystallization at 1006°C. At 1375°C the bio glassceramic is comprised of quasi-rounded colonies formed by a homogeneous mixture of pseudowollastonite (-CaSiO3) and -tricalcium phosphate (-Ca3(PO4)2). This microstructure corresponds to irregular eutectic structures and is similar to that of Bioeutectic® W-TCP material obtained previously, via controlled slow solidification of the eutectic composition, by some of the present authors. It has also been found that from the eutectic composition of the wollastonite – tricalcium phosphate binary system is possible to obtain a wide range of bio glass-ceramics through appropriate design of thermal treatments.