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.

A gallium silica glass composition is described. The glass can be used in variety of biomedical applications

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.

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.

A gallium silica glass composition is described. The glass can be used in variety of biomedical applications.

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 B.sub.2O.sub.3, 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 conditions and under Modified JIS Z 2801 for Bacteria testing conditions. In some embodiments, the glass and articles exhibit a 2 log reduction or greater in a concentration of Murine Norovirus under Modified JIS Z 2801 Test for Viruses testing conditions.

A method of making an antimicrobial composite article, including the steps: providing a matrix comprising a polymeric material; providing a plurality of second phase particles comprising an antimicrobial agent; melting the matrix to form a matrix melt; distributing the plurality of second phase particles in the matrix melt at a second phase volume fraction to form a composite melt; forming a composite article from the composite melt; and treating the composite article to form an antimicrobial composite article having an exterior surface comprising an exposed portion of the matrix and the plurality of second phase particles. The distributing step can employ an extrusion process. The forming a composite article step can employ an injection molding process. The treating step can employ abrading and plasma-treating the article to define the exterior surface.

A method for the alkaline digestion of soda-lime glass comprising forming a mixture of soda lime glass and a hydroxide solution, the mixture having at least 100 grams of glass per litre of H2O, the hydroxide solution having a concentration of 1M or greater to thereby form an aqueous sodium silicate fraction having a silicate concentration of 50 g/L or greater (calculated as SiO2 equivalent) and a ratio of SiO2:M2O of at least 1, wherein M2O is an alkaline metal oxide, by digesting the glass in the mixture; and separating the aqueous sodium silicate fraction from solids. The solids contain calcium silicate hydrate and undissolved glass. The calcium silicate hydrate can be CSH treated with an acid to thereby dissolve soluble metals from the CSH and separating a liquid phase from a solid phase, the solid phase comprising SiO2 or silica gel.

Embodiments of the present invention pertain to glass compositions, glasses and articles. The articles include an aluminosilicate glass, which may include P.sub.2O.sub.5 and K.sub.2O.

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 B.sub.2O.sub.3, 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 conditions and under Modified JIS Z 2801 for Bacteria testing conditions. In some embodiments, the glass and articles exhibit a 2 log reduction or greater in a concentration of Murine Norovirus under Modified JIS Z 2801 Test for Viruses testing conditions.