Effect of sintering temperature on silica gels and their bone bonding ability

Silica gels gave rise to apatite precipitation onto their surface depending on the sintering temperature. Silica gels prepared at different sintering temperatures were studied in vivo in cortical bone for their bone bonding ability in relation to their apatite precipitation. From the results we conclude that the sintering temperature influenced the stability of the material. Sintering at the lower temperatures of 400 and 600 °C allow the silica gels to be degraded more easily, while gels treated at 900 and 1000 °C were more stable. The more stable gels showed some bone bonding, while the degraded gels evoked a high cellular reaction of giant cells and lymphocytes.