Abstract
The fluoride containing bioactive glass F3 with nominal composition 44.8 SiO2 - 2.5 P2O3 - 36.5 CaO - 6.6 Na2O - 6.6 K2O - 3.0 CaF2 mol% is a highly promising candidate as bone replacement material. However, its strong surface crystallization tendency, which retard or block viscous flow sintering, demands a thorough understanding on the crystal nucleation and growth mechanisms to prevent …