A dental glass includes: phosphorus; sodium and/or potassium; and calcium, wherein the dental glass contains, in terms of oxide, phosphorus (P.sub.2O.sub.5) by greater than or equal to 40% by mass and less than or equal to 70% by mass, sodium and/or potassium (Na.sub.2O, K.sub.2O) by greater than or equal to 20% by mass and less than or equal to 40% by mass, and calcium (CaO) by greater than or equal to 1% by mass and less than or equal to 20% by mass, and wherein the dental glass does not substantially contain silicon and aluminum.

Embodiments of the present invention pertain to antimicrobial glass compositions, glasses and articles. The articles include a glass, which may include a glass phase and a cuprite phase. In other embodiments, the glasses include as plurality of Cu.sup.1+ ions, a degradable phase including B2O3, P.sub.2O.sub.5 and K.sub.2O and a durable phase including SiO.sub.2. Other embodiments include glasses having a plurality of Cu.sup.1+ ions disposed on the surface of the glass and in the glass network and/or the glass matrix. The article may also include a polymer. The glasses and articles disclosed herein exhibit a 2 log reduction or greater in a concentration of at least one of Staphylococcus aureus, Enterobacter aerogenes, Pseudomonas aeruginosa bacteria, Methicillin Resistant Staphylococcus aureus, and E. coli, under the EPA Test Method for Efficacy of Copper Alloy as a Sanitizer testing condition and under Modified JIS Z 2801 for Bacteria testing conditions.

A borophosphate glass composition including B.sub.2O.sub.3, P.sub.2O.sub.5, and CaO, and optionally a source additive selected from: Li.sub.2O, Na.sub.2O, K.sub.2O, Al.sub.2O.sub.3, ZnO, MgO, Fe.sub.2O.sub.3/FeO, CuO/Cu.sub.2O, and mixtures thereof, as defined herein. Also disclosed are bioactive compositions or substrates including the disclosed borophosphate glass composition, and at least one live cell. Also disclosed are methods of inhibiting or increasing the relative amount of species containing boron, phosphorous, or both, being released into an aqueous solution from aborophosphate glass composition defined herein. Also disclosed is a method of proliferating cells on a bioactive substrate as defined herein. Also disclosed are related glass compositions that exclude one of B.sub.2O.sub.3, P.sub.2O.sub.5, and CaO.

An antimicrobial article that includes: an antimicrobial composite region that includes a matrix comprising a polymeric material, and a first plurality of particles within the matrix. The particles include a phase-separable glass with a copper-containing antimicrobial agent. The antimicrobial composite region can be a film containing the first plurality of particles that is subsequently laminated to a bulk element. The first plurality of particles can also be pressed into the film or a bulk element to define an antimicrobial composite region. An exposed surface portion of the antimicrobial composite region can exhibit at least a log 2 reduction in a concentration of at least one of Staphylococcus aureus, Enterobacter aerogenes, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa bacteria under a Modified EPA Copper Test Protocol.

An aluminoborate glass composition, including B.sub.2O.sub.3, Al.sub.2O.sub.3, P.sub.2O.sub.5, Na.sub.2O, and CaO, as defined herein. Also disclosed are bioactive compositions including the disclosed aluminoborate glass composition, a suitable fluid, and at least one live cell. Also disclosed is method of limiting the amount of boron released into an aqueous solution from a disclosed aluminoborate-containing glass composition as defined herein. Also disclosed is a method of proliferating cells on a bioactive substrate as defined herein.

Aspects of this disclosure pertain to a colorless material that includes a carrier, copper-containing particles, and quaternary ammonium. In one or more embodiments, the material exhibits, in the CIE L*a*b* system, an L* value in the range from about 91 to about 100, and a C* value of less than about 7, wherein C* equals (a*.sup.2+b*.sup.2). In some embodiments, the material exhibits a greater than 3 log reduction in a concentration of Staphylococcus aureus, under the EPA Test Method for Efficacy of Copper Alloy as a Sanitizer testing conditions.

Aspects of this disclosure pertain to a colorless material that includes a carrier, copper-containing particles, and quaternary ammonium. In one or more embodiments, the material exhibits, in the CIE L*a*b* system, an L* value in the range from about 91 to about 100, and a C* value of less than about 7, wherein C* equals (a*.sup.2+b*.sup.2). In some embodiments, the material exhibits a greater than 3 log reduction in a concentration of Staphylococcus aureus, under the EPA Test Method for Efficacy of Copper Alloy as a Sanitizer testing conditions.

The disclosure describes compositions and methods for producing a change in the voltage at which hydrogen gas is produced in a lead acid battery. The compositions and methods relate to producing a concentration of one or more metal ions in the lead acid battery electrolyte. The compositions include glass based compositions that are included as part of various battery components, such as the battery separator, pasting paper, additives to battery paste, etc.

A method of forming a dissolvable part of amorphous borate includes: preparing a mixture comprising one or more boron compounds and one or more alkali compounds, at least one of the one or more boron compounds and the one or more alkali compounds being hydrous; heating the mixture to a melting temperature for a predetermined time to melt the mixture and release water from the mixture to form an anhydrous boron compound that is moldable, wherein the amount of alkali compound being selected to achieve an alkali oxide content of between about 10 to 25%; with the anhydrous boron compound at a molding temperature, molding the anhydrous boron compound in a mold; and cooling the anhydrous boron compound to form a solid.

A method of forming a dissolvable part of amorphous borate includes: preparing a mixture comprising one or more boron compounds and one or more alkali compounds, at least one of the one or more boron compounds and the one or more alkali compounds being hydrous; heating the mixture to a melting temperature for a predetermined time to melt the mixture and release water from the mixture to form an anhydrous boron compound that is moldable, wherein the amount of alkali compound being selected to achieve an alkali oxide content of between about 10 to 25%; with the anhydrous boron compound at a molding temperature, molding the anhydrous boron compound in a mold; and cooling the anhydrous boron compound to form a solid.