Bio‐cellular glass–ceramic composite with embedded calcium phosphate from eggshell for alternative biomaterials in medical and dental applications

Abstract

AbstractGreen biomaterial foams with nontoxicity, low weight, low density, and high‐compressive strength, which can be easily manufactured at low cost, are urgently sought. When implanted as a scaffold, bio‐cellular glass–ceramic composite has potential for bone bonding, connective tissue growth, and reconstruction of lost tissue. The present study investigates the physical‐thermo‐mechanical properties of bio‐cellular glass–ceramic composite supplemented with calcium phosphate from eggshell powder (0, 1, 3, or 5 wt%) and sodium‐silicate binder. The composite materials were prepared by hand pressing and fired at 800 or 900°C for 1 h. The composites containing 1 and 3 wt% calcium phosphate from eggshell powder and fired at 800°C achieved suitable porosity (74–79%), pore size (20–800 μm), bulk density (0.57–0.70 g/cm3), true density (0.98–1.06 g/cm3), water absorption (10.31–21.41%), compressive strength (2.71–3.23 MPa), and thermal expansion coefficient ([5.95–5.98] × 10−6°C−1) for practical applications. The obtained bio‐cellular glass–ceramic composite is an alternative biomaterial for biomedical and dental applications.