Thermal Behaviour of Silicate-Phosphate Glasses in Relation to Their Biochemical Activity

Glasses of theK₂O–MgO–CaO–SiO₂ and K₂O–MgO–CaO–P₂O₅–SiO₂ systems with microelements (Fe, Mo, Zn, B, Mn, Cu) were obtained by melting of apatite and serpentinite rocks, K₂CO³ and oxides of appropriately metals mixtures. The amorphous state of glasses and the structural changes during their heating were determined by RDF and DTA/DSC methods. The solubility of the glasses in 2 mass% citric acid solution was studied by chemical analysis (ICP-AES, EDS) and SEM observations.It has been found that the biochemical activity of silicate-phosphate glasses depends on the content of P₂O₅ and K₂O in their framework and is related to crystallisation ability of these glasses.This revised version was published online in November 2005 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Thermal analysis of gel-derived bioactive phospho-silicate glasses

Thermal reactions of model phospho-silicate gels of simple composition has been studied. The investigations demonstrate that the kind of compounds introducing P₂O₅ into the gel silicate network, H₃PO₄, PO(OC₂H₅)₃, POCl₃ influence the course and temperature and the xerogel formation. The amount of interstitial water and xerogel porosity is dependent on the cations, amorphous structure modifiers (Ca, Na) used. Thermal analysis curves appear the convenient carriers of informations about the processes in gel pores and the formation of xerogel and glass. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Thermal stability of fluorochloroindate glasses

New fluorindate glass compositions have been investigated in order to improve optical transmission as well as thermal properties. Chloride inclusion extends transmission of a fluoride matrix to longer wavelength in infrared region. In the present work thermal parameters of an IZnBS composition, based on InF₃, ZnF₂, BaF₂ and SrF₂, with various amounts of alkaline chlorides were investigated by differential scanning calorimetry. The chloride presence decreased all characteristic temperatures and increased both thermal stability and glass forming ability up to 10% of MCl content, where M=Li, Na, K and Rb. The presence of NaCl promoted glass phase separation. For samples containing same concentration of NaCl, this effect is accentuated for increasing the contents of SrF₂. This revised version was published online in August 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Thermal expansion studies on some gamma-irradiated binary borate glasses

The thermal expansion, density and molar volume of some binary borate glasses were measured before and after exposure to a gamma-ray dose of 10³ kGy. The expansion curves for all glasses, which were measured from room temperature to above the softening temperature, displayed similar characteristics. Increase of the lead oxide content decreased the thermal coefficient of expansion, but the effects of different alkali metal cations were shown to depend on their ionic radii. The various proposed mechanisms of thermal expansion are dealt with. The experimental results could be explained by considering the bond strengths, the polarizing powers of the different cations and the damage produced by radiation. The possible compaction of the structure due to irradiation is also discussed.     

Thermal properties of fluoride glasses and their gel precursors

Xerogels were prepared from zirconium, barium, aluminum, lanthanum and lithium acetates, corresponding to a Li containing ZBLA composition. The study of their thermal properties (DSC, TG/DTG, FT-IR) showed that they might be used as chemically stable precursors in the preparation of fluoride glasses. Hydrofluoric acid in solution was chosen as a mild fluorinating agent. This newly proposed technique of fluorinating allowed to obtain high quality ZBLALi glass which presents the advantage of higher thermal stability and homogeneity in comparison with the glass obtained using individual commercial fluorides.This revised version was published online in November 2005 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Thermochemistry of Biologically Active Glasses

Mutual relation between thermal activity and biochemical activity of the phospho-silicate glasses which are used as controlled rate release fertilisers and bioglasses for medical applications, has been observed. Analysis of the local atomic interactions in the structure of glass is used to explain this relation. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Glass transition kinetics of some Se-Te-Ag chalcogenide glasses

Summary The present paper reports the Differential Scanning Calorimetric (DSC) study of some Ag doped Se-Te chalcogenide glasses. DSC runs were taken at different heating rates. Well-defined endothermic and exothermic peaks were obtained at glass transition and crystallization temperatures. The variation of glass transition temperature T_gwith Ag concentration has been studied. It has been found that T_gdecreases with increase in Ag concentration. The heating rate dependence of T_gis used to evaluate the activation energy of glass transition (DE_t). The value of<span style='font-size:10.0pt; font-family:"SymbolProp BT";mso-bidi-font-family:"SymbolProp BT"'>DE_thas been found to increase with increase in Ag concentration followed by nearly constant value at higher concentrations of Ag.     

A review of the role of DSC analysis in the design of fluorozirconate glasses for fibre optic applications

The relatively poor thermal stability of fluorozirconate glasses is a major factor preventing the realisation of their true potential for fibre optic applications. A range of methods based on both isothermal and non-isothermal DSC techniques, which can be employed to evaluate the thermal stability of fluorozirconate glasses, are described. The relevance of these thermal stability criteria to the design of fluorozirconate compositions capable of yielding high quality optical fibres is discussed.     

Structure inhomogeneities of medium-range order in fluorozirconate glasses

Images of cleaved surfaces were obtained for 53ZrF₄-20BaF₂-4LaF₃-3AlF₃-20NaF (ZBLAN) glasses and fused quartz using an NTMDT atomic force microscope. It is shown that the scatter of particle size depends on the cooling rate and is 21–48.5 Å for the cleaved surface of ZBLAN glass obtained by very fast cooling and 68–172 Å for the cleaved surface of ZBLAN after slow cooling. For cleaved fused quartz, the range is 25-18 Å.     

DTA/DSC study of nanocrystallization in oxyfluoride glasses

Crystallization of glasses of the Na₂O-Al₂O₃-SiO₂-LaF₃ system was studied by DTA/DSC, XRD and TEM methods. It has been found that the nanocrystallization of LaF₃ in the NAS-based glass strongly depends on ratio of Na₂O/(SiO₂+Al₂O₃) and amount of doped LaF₃. Analysis of the local atomic interactions in the structure of oxyfluoride glasses has been used to explain the course of the crystallization. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Spectroscopic and thermal studies of silicate-phosphate glass

The structure of silicate-phosphate glass containing the different amounts of phosphorus, magnesium and calcium cations, acting as macroelements was examined by FTIR, XRD and thermal (DTA/DSC) methods. It has been found that in the structure of silicate-phosphate glass modified by an addition of Mg²⁺ and Ca²⁺ there are formed domains characterized by certain degree of ordering of the units present in their composition, while the structure of the newly formed domains is similar to the structure of the crystal compounds formed during crystallization of these glasses. The changing character of domains structure may be the reason of different chemical activity of glass acting as glassy fertilizers.     

Thermal properties and stability of lithium titanophosphate glasses

DTA was used to study thermal properties and thermal stability of (50-x)Li₂O-xTiO₂-50P₂O₅ (x=0–10 mol%) and 45Li₂Ot-yTiO₂-(55-y)P₂O₅ (y=5–20 mol%) glasses. The addition of TiO₂ to lithium phosphate glasses results in a non-linear increase of glass transition temperature. All prepared glasses crystallize under heating within the temperature range of 400–540°C. The lowest tendency towards crystallization have the glasses with x=7.5 and y=10 mol% TiO₂. X-ray diffraction analysis showed that major compounds formed by annealing of the glasses were LiPO₃, Li₄ P₂O₇, TiP₂O₇ and NASICON-type LiTi₂(PO₄)₃. DTA results also indicated that the maximum of nucleation rate for 45Li₂O-5TiO₂-50P₂O₅ glass is close to the glass transition temperature.     

Thermal crystallization studies on Ga−Te glasses

Semiconducting Ga_xTe_100?x (17≤x≤25) glasses have been prepared by melt quenching method and thermal crystallization studies carried out using differential scanning calorimetry. On heating, virgin Ga_xTe_100?x glasses exhibit one glass transition and two crystallization reactions. The first crystallization reaction corresponds to the precipitation of hexagonal Te and the second one to the crystallization of the matrix into zinc blende Ga₂Te₃ phase. If Ga_xTe_100?x glasses are quenched to ambient temperature fromT _crl and reheated, they exhibit the phenomenon of double glass transition.     

A Potassium Based Fluorine Containing Bioactive Glass for Use as a Desensitizing Toothpaste

Potassium releasing bioactive glasses (BAGs) may offer improved relief for dentine hypersensitivity compared to conventional sodium containing BAGs by releasing K⁺ ions for nerve desensitization and occluding dentinal tubules to prevent fluid flow within dentinal tubules. Potassium oxide was substituted for sodium oxide on a molar basis in a fluoride containing BAG used in toothpastes for treating dentine hypersensitivity. The BAG powders were then immersed in an artificial saliva at pH 7 and tris buffer and the pH rise and ion release behavior were characterized by ICP-OES and ISE. The potassium and sodium containing BAGs were characterized by XRD, DSC, FTIR and NMR. Both BAGs presented amorphous diffraction patterns and the glass transition temperature of the potassium glass was higher than that of the sodium glass. The ³¹P MAS-NMR spectra indicated a peak at 2.7 ppm corresponding to apatite and a small peak at −103 ppm indicated crystallization to fluorapatite. Both BAGs dissolved and formed apatite at similar rates, although the dissolution of the potassium glass was slightly slower and it released less fluoride as a result of partial nanocrystallization to fluorapatite upon quenching. The potassium release from the potassium ions could potentially result in nerve deactivation when used in toothpastes.     

Thermal properties of oxide glasses

Glasses with the composition Li₂O·2SiO₂·nTiO₂ and Li₂O·2SiO₂·nZrO₂, where n=0, 0.03, 0.062, 0.1, were prepared and the onset and peak temperatures have been determined by DTA. From these characteristic temperatures, the kinetic parameters describing the nucleation and crystal growth have been obtained by isoconversional methods. The kinetic parameters have been used for the calculation of nucleation and crystal growth times for individual glasses so determining the order of glass stability at reheating. The stability of glasses increases with the content of TiO₂ or ZrO₂ where the increase is higher for ZrO₂. Within the concentration range under study, the increase of both times with the metal oxide concentration is quadratic. It has been discussed that the crystallization kinetics does not obey the Arrhenius law and, therefore, when using the evaluation methods based on this law, the results should not be extrapolated outside the temperature range of the measurements.     

DSC studies on sodium phosphate glasses doped with chlorides of Cd,Co and Ag

A number of samples of sodium phosphate glasses doped with Cd/Co or Ag chlorides were prepared and characterized by X-ray diffraction, IR spectral, ion transport and DSC studies. It was found from DSC studies that the glass transition temperature (T _g) and crystallization temperature (T _c) values increased with the increasing concentrations of the dopants Cd/ or Co chlorides. However, the T _g and T _c values were found to decrease when the AgCl was taken as the dopant and the following sequence is observed: T _g(CoCl₂)>T _g(CdCl₂)> T _g(AgCl) T _c(CoCl₂)>T _c(CdCl₂)>T _c(AgCl) These results have been discussed and explained on the basis of changes in the structure of sodium phosphate glassy matrix by the addition of different cations as dopants.The authors are thankful to Prof. M. L. Srivastava, Head, Department of Chemistry, D. D. U. Gorakhpur University, Gorakhpur, and Prof. Suresh Chandra, Department of Physics, B. H. U. Varanasi for providing necessary laboratory facilities and help in carrying out the present work. The financial support from the Department of Science and Technology and University Grants Commission, New Delhi is also gratefully acknowledged.     

Controlled-porosity glasses as alternative adsorbents to silica gel for HPLC

Summary The paper deals with the use of controlled-porosity glasses (CPGs) as adsorbents for HPLC. The physicochemical and chromatographic properties of small-pore CPGs are compared to the analogous properties of silica gels. The results show good correlation between them and suggest the possibility of application of CPGs as adsorbents for liquid chromatography.     

Thermal and structural studies of nanocrystallization of oxyfluoride glasses

The influence of fluorine content on the structure and crystallization of oxyfluoride glasses from the Na₂O–Al₂O₃–SiO₂–LaF₃ system was studied by DTA/DSC, XRD, FTIR and SEM methods. It has been found that the increase in the fluorine content in the structure of oxyfluoride glasses causes the increase of the flexibility of their structure, which inhibits the process of crystallization of the silicate- aluminium matrix. Simultaneously the ability of the glass for LaF₃ crystallization, which shows a multistage character, is increasing. Analysis of the local atomic interactions in the structure of glasses has been used to explain the course of the crystallization.     

Thermal reactions of solid-state amorphized borates and borate glasses

The properties and course of phase transition of amorphous borates obtained by solid-state thermal and mechanical treatment of hydrated borates and melt quenched glasses with the compositions of these borates were studied. Processes of structural relaxation and crystallization were considered.It was found that different methods of preparation of amorphous borates and the differences in their structural ordering resulting from these methods affect the rate and the mechanism of transformations occurring during their heating.Support for this work was provided by the Polish Committee of Scientific Research (KBN) — grant No. 3 P407 034 06.     

Thermal analysis of mechanochemically activated glass

Thermal analysis (TG, DTG, DTA, DSC) has been used to study the influence of mechanochemical activation of glass making batch on its melting and obtained glass crystallization. It revealed, that long time (12 h) mechanical treatment accelerates the glass batch melting and also improving network homogeneity influence the internal structure of the obtained glass. Refinement of the glass, at the beginning reduces temperature and increases degree of crystallization as a result of nucleating action of the increasing surface area of grains. However long time activation lowers the crystallization ability of glass and increases crystallization temperature. This is attributed to the deformation of the structure surface layer and surface energy increase, hampering the crystals nuclei formation.