Viscous flow sintering of bioactive glass-ceramic composites toughened by zirconia particles

In order to widen the application fields of a bioactive glass-ceramic (Bioverit(R)I), the possibility of preparing a glass-ceramic matrix biocomposite, toughened by zirconia particles, was investigated. Two kinds of biocomposites were prepared, using as reinforcing phase tetragonal yttria-stabilised zirconia (ZrO(2)-3%Y(2)O(3)) and pure monoclinic zirconia particles, respectively. The composites were prepared by viscous flow sintering. The sintered composites were characterised by optical and Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), Energy Dispersion Spectroscopy (EDS) and X-Ray Diffraction (XRD). A mechanical characterisation of the sintered samples was carried out by means of Vickers indentations, Young's modulus measurements, fracture toughness and compressive strength determinations. The chemical stability of the samples was evaluated by soaking them in Ringer solution. (C) 2002 Published by Elsevier Science Ltd.