Interplay between precursors and thermal processing in the production of polymer-derived 70S30C bioglass scaffolds in air

Silicone-based emulsions effectively facilitate the dispersion of oxide precursors in salt form, aiding the formation of a polymer-derived bioactive glass matrix. However, synthesizing fully amorphous materials in an oxidizing atmosphere remains a challenge. This study addresses this issue, achieving an X-ray amorphous polymer-derived material akin to 70S30C Bioglass (70 mol% SiO2, 30 mol% CaO) after firing in air. Careful optimization of formulations and thermal conditions was essential. A combination of EDS and FTIR analyses clarified how acrylic resin composition and cross-linking degree influence the glass-forming ability. Following the identification of the optimal formulation, comprehensive thermal evolution studies (XRD/TGA/DSC) were conducted to investigate the crystallization pathway, aiming to prevent the formation of secondary phases and promote an amorphous network. The findings led to the development of an optimized heating protocol for successfully fabricating the target bioglass as reticulated scaffolds.