PDMS‐modified CaO‐SiO₂ hybrids derived by a sol–gel process for biomedical applications

Monolithic and crack‐free disks of PDMS‐modified CaO‐SiO₂ hybrids were obtained by a hydrolysis and polycondensation of poly (dimethylsiloxane), tetraethoxysilane, calcium nitrate. The bone‐forming bioactivity of the as‐obtained hybrids was influenced by some parameters, including surface morphology, microstructure and mesophase. It should be mentioned here that the heat treatment temperature plays an important part on the microstructural property and the bioactivity of the hybrids. The bioactivity of the hybrids was also evaluated by immersing the specimen in the simulated body fluid (SBF), and results indicate that it can be significantly improved by the porosity of the hybrids, which can be tuned by controlling the solvent evaporation temperature during the thermal process rigorously. The porous product may be used as a new kind of bioactive bone‐repairing material. POLYM. COMPOS., 35:1193–1197, 2014. © 2013 Society of Plastics Engineers