Mechanical properties of a new type of apatite-containing glass-ceramic for prosthetic application

A new type of apatite-containing glass-ceramic in the system MgO-CaO-SiO2-P2O5 can form a tight chemical bond with bones and has a high mechanical strength. The cause for its high mechanical strength was examined by comparing mechanical properties of the glass-ceramics which have an identical chemical composition and different microstructures. It was found that the mechanical strength of the apatite-containing glass-ceramics is considerably increased by the precipitation ofβ-wollastonite crystals due to an increase in fracture surface energy resulting in an increase in fracture toughness.