Structure and properties of zinc calcium phosphate glass ceramics: mixed former effect
摘要
Calcium phosphate, zinc phosphate, and mixed calcium zinc phosphate glass ceramics in the systems 50CaO-50P₂O₅, 50ZnO-50P₂O₅, and xZnO.(100-x)(CaO-P₂O₅), x = 0–50 mol% have been prepared via wet-hydrothermal technique, yielding polycrystalline materials as confirmed by XRD and SEM-EDX analyses. The sharp XRD patterns correspond to crystalline Ca₃(PO₄)₂, Zn₃(PO₄)₂, and Zn₂Ca(PO₃)₂ phases in their respective systems. FTIR spectroscopy enabled calculation of relative areas proportional to different phosphate species (Qⁿ) concentrations, with peaks and relative areas corresponding to (Q⁰+Q¹) and Q² assigned using Gaussian function referencing. Physical properties including hardness, surface morphology, and density were analyzed in relation to structural changes. The substitution of CaO and P₂O₅ with ZnO increases bridging oxygen (BO) concentration up to 20 mol% ZnO, enhancing glass ceramic hardness, demonstrating ZnO’s network former role in this concentration range. Further ZnO addition (> 20 mol%) decreases BO content and hardness, indicating a transition to a modifier role. The reduction in P₂O₅ and CaO contents increases non-bridging oxygen (NBO) bonds in the phosphate network, leading to increased free volumes (Vf) and oxygen molar volume in the studied glass ceramics.