Effect of MgO addition on the crystallization and in vitro bioactivity of glass ceramics in the CaO–MgO–SiO2–P2O5 system

CaO–MgO–SiO2–P2O5 glass ceramics were successfully prepared by sintering the sol–gel-derived powders. The effects of MgO addition on the samples crystallization and structure were investigated by means of differential thermal analysis (DTA), X-ray diffraction (XRD) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). In addition, samples degradation and in vitro bioactivity assays were also evaluated. With more MgO addition, the glass ceramics crystallization kinetics under non-isothermal conditions changed from bulk crystallization to surface crystallization, and new crystal phases of Ca2MgSi2O7 and SiO2 were induced. In addition, it is observed that with increasing MgO concentration, the glass ceramics degradability gradually decreased and the formation of apatite was delayed.