An investigation of the crystallization kinetics of 45S5 Bioglass® using differential scanning calorimetry is presented in this paper. Thermal analysis was performed using the Friedman method. The activation energy and the Avrami index were calculated. The glass samples were subjected to additional controlled heat treatment at 620 °C in order to obtain bioactive glass-ceramics with enhanced mechanical properties. X-ray powder diffraction (XRD) measurements indicated the formation of the glass-ceramic structures of three cyclosilicates: Na4Ca4(Si6O18) or Na6Ca3(Si6O18) or Na16Ca4(Si12O36). Based on middle infrared region (MIR) results, it can be concluded that the crystalline phase present in the tested materials was Na6Ca3(Si6O18) (combeite). Material was doped with Eu3+ ions, which act as a spectroscopic probe for monitoring the structural changes in the glass matrix. The decreasing value of the fluorescence intensity radio parameter indicated symmetry around the europium ions and, thus, the arrangement of the glass structure. The bioactive properties of the examined glass-ceramics were also determined. The bioactive glass fibers doped with Eu3+ were manufactured using two different methods. Its structural and luminescent properties were examined.
Keywords: bioactive glass fibers; glass-ceramics; luminescence; thermal analysis.