Study the structural, physical, and optical properties of CaO–MgO–SiO2–CaF2 bioactive glasses with Na2O and P2O5 dopants

Abstract

A new bioactive CaO–MgO–CaF2–SiO2 glass system with Na2O/MgO and P2O5/SiO2 substitutions was produced by the melting and quenching methods. Different properties of synthesized glasses, such as structural, mechanical, physical, and optical were conducted. The characterization was achieved by employing XRD, DTA, FTIR, and UV–visible techniques. The variation in density values (ρ), molar volume (Vm), oxygen molar volume (Vo), oxygen packing density (OPD), and micro-hardness showed the influence of Na2O and P2O5 dopants on the glass structure and associated physical properties. The amorphous nature of the tested glasses was confirmed using XRD, while FTIR proved the existence of [SiO4]4- and [PO4]3- in glassy networks. The optical band gap determined using the absorbance spectrum fitting (ASF) model was found to increase under substitution processes. The impact of P5+ on the bonding mechanisms by scavenging metal cations and enhancing polymerization of the silicate network, whereas increasing Na+ ions causes charge balance in the glassy network. The results revealed that the density values of the studied glasses increased from 2.76 g/cm3 to 2.86 g/cm3 by introducing Na+ and P5+ ions, whereas increasing the molar ratio improved the mechanical properties with little effect on the Poisson's ratio of multicomponent glass systems. The data also shows that the random distribution of two dissimilar Na+ and P5+cations within the silicate network leads to structural and property modifications in the developed glass. The results could pave the way for a new brake application in the biomaterials industry as an effective anti-caries agent in preventive dentistry.