Bioactive calcium pyrophosphate glasses and glass-ceramics

Calcium phosphate glass-based materials in the pyrophosphate region are briefly reviewed. Calcium pyrophosphate glasses can be prepared by including a small amount of TiO(2) (<or=10mol%). Bonelike apatite forms on some of the glasses in simulated body fluid. By heating powder-compacts of the glasses, they are crystallized and subsequently are sintered, resulting in fabrication of high-strength glass-ceramics with machinability; they are easier to be machined using conventional tools in comparison with conventional calcium phosphate ceramics. beta-Ca(2)P(2)O(7) crystal formed in the glass-ceramics plays an important role in the machinability. Their apatite-forming ability in simulated body fluid is drastically enhanced after autoclaving in distilled water. The glass-ceramics can be easily coated on a new beta-type titanium alloy using a conventional glazing technique.