Analysis of A.W glass-ceramic surface by micro-beam x-ray diffraction.

The purpose of this study is to examine the formation of hydroxyapatite on the surface of glass-ceramics (chemical composition: SiO2, 34.2; P2O5, 16.3; CaO, 44.9; MgO, 4.6; CaF2, 0.5 in weight ratio). Two experiments were performed. In the first experiment, plates (2 x 25 x 25 mm) of glass-ceramics containing apatite-wollastonite (designated A.W-GC) were used. In the second experiment, plates (15 x 10 x 2 mm) of A.W-GC and its parent glass (designated G) were used. In each experiment, two paired specimens of identical material, one tied with silk thread, the other not tied, were implanted subcutaneously into rats. In both experiments, bonding to each other of both tied and untied specimens was observed one month after implantation. A pattern resembling hydroxyapatite was identified on the detached surface of the bonded A.W-GC by micro-beam x-ray diffraction. The weak crystalline pattern was also observed on the detached surface of bonded G samples. Analysis of the interface by SEM-EPMA showed that a calcium-phosphorus rich layer formed between the two bonded surfaces in both experiments. It is suggested that the bonding between the two materials was formed by the calcium-phosphorus rich layer, and that the calcium-phosphorus rich layer is virtually identical to hydroxyapatite.