Fabrication and characterization of porous 45S5 glass Scaffolds via direct selective laser sintering

Abstract

A porous 45S5 bioactive glass-ceramic scaffold has been designed and fabricated via direct selective laser sintering (SLS). The scaffolds sintered over a range of laser powers from 6.0 to 30.0 W were characterized using scanning electron microscope (SEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). Their mechanical properties were tested with Vickers hardness tester. The testing results showed that the 45S5 glass in an initial amorphous state was transformed into the favorable crystallization phase Na2Ca2Si3O9 by inhibiting other phase transformation due to the rapid heating and cooling of laser. The 45S5 particles began to soften and fuse together with the increased laser power during the sintering process. At a proper range of laser power (around 15.0 W), the sample became denser and had higher degree of crystallinity with superior fracture toughness. Further increasing the laser power, the 45S5 glass powders were melted, and there are the undesired holes or even sinking emerged on the surface of the sample. So, the scaffold with the superior fracture toughness and degree of crystallinity has been obtained under the laser power of 15.0 W. © 2013 Copyright Taylor and Francis Group, LLC.