abstract
Silicate hybrid materials were prepared by the sol-gel process with the addition of x mass% of zirconium propoxide (x = 0 and 1). The thermal behaviour as well as the influence of Zr addition was studied by thermal gravimetric analysis and differential thermal analysis. The microstructure evolution with temperature was investigated by X-ray diffraction and small-angle neutron scattering. It was found that the beginning of polymer degradation occurs at a higher temperature in the material prepared with addition of Zr than in the one prepared without. At the nanometric scale, the materials prepared without Zr show smooth interfaces, whereas those with Zr present a mass fractal structure. This structure is also observed in the material without Zr after thermal treatment at 200 degrees C. The results showed that bioactivity is favoured by mass fractal structures in comparison with one consisting of smooth surfaces.
keywords
BIOACTIVITY; BONE; NMR
subject category
Thermodynamics; Chemistry
authors
Lancastre, JJH; Margaca, FMA; Ferreira, LM; Falcao, AN; Salvado, IMM; Nabica, MSMS; Fernandes, MHV; Almasy, L
our authors
Isabel Margarida Miranda Salvado
Associate Professor
Maria Helena Figueira Vaz Fernandes
Associate Professoracknowledgements
The work was based on experiments performed at the Swiss spallation neutron source SINQ, Paul Scherrer Institute, Villigen, Switzerland, and it was supported by the FCT (Portuguese Foundation for Science and Technology).