Abstract
Wollastonite (CaSiO3) and diopside (CaMgSi2O6) silicate ceramics have been widely investigated as highly bioactive materials, suitable for bone tissue engineering applications. In the present paper, highly porous glass-ceramic foams, with both wollastonite and diopside as crystal phases, were developed from the thermal treatment of silicone polymers filled with CaO and MgO precursors, in the form of micro-sized particles. The foaming was due to water release, at low temperature, in the polymeric matrix before ceramic conversion, mainly operated by hydrated sodium phosphate, used as a secondary filler. This additive proved to be “multifunctional”, since it additionally favored the phase development, by the formation of a liquid phase upon firing, in turn promoting the ionic interdiffusion. The liquid phase was promoted also by the incorporation of powders of a glass crystallizing itself in wollastonite and diopside, with significant improvements in both structural integrity and crushing strength. The biological characterization of polymer-derived wollastonite-diopside foams, to assess the bioactivity of the samples, was performed by means of a cell culture test. The MTT assay and LDH activity tests gave positive results in terms of cell viability.
Highlights
The technology of polymer-derived ceramics (PDCs) is among the most novel approaches for the synthesis and shaping of advanced ceramics
The synthesis of many types of silicate ceramics can be achieved by the addition of metal oxide precursors, in the form of micro- or nano-sized particles
Phase pure ceramics can be obtained at relatively low temperatures, due to the high reactivity of the metal oxide precursors with the defective network of the amorphous silica, left as a ceramic residue of oxidative decomposition of silicones [2,3]
Summary
The technology of polymer-derived ceramics (PDCs) is among the most novel approaches for the synthesis and shaping of advanced ceramics. The synthesis of many types of silicate ceramics can be achieved by the addition of metal oxide precursors, in the form of micro- or nano-sized particles. Phase pure ceramics can be obtained at relatively low temperatures, due to the high reactivity of the metal oxide precursors with the defective network of the amorphous silica, left as a ceramic residue of oxidative decomposition of silicones [2,3]. Silicone/fillers mixtures do allow one to get these peculiar bioactive formulations, and facilitate the shaping of the ceramic components in the form of highly porous bodies, which are extremely useful, especially in the field of scaffolds for bone regeneration [10,11]. Concerning the shaping techniques, different methods can be applied, such as warm-pressing of composite powders mixed with sacrificial
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