A high temperature resistant inorganic fiber includes 72 to 77.3 weight percent silica; 10.2 to 15 weight percent magnesia; 12.4 to 17 weight percent calcia; 0 to 1.5 weight percent alumina; and 0 to 0.6 weight percent total alkali oxides; the fiber has a use temperature of at least 1260° C.; the fiber may exhibit a shrinkage of greater than 5% after exposure to a temperature of 1400° C. for 24 hours; and the fiber may have a melt temperature of less than 1400° C.

The invention relates to a biodegradable, bioactive and bio-compatible glass composition comprising: SiO.sub.2 65-75 wt-%, Na.sub.2O 12-17 wt-%, CaO 8-11 wt-%, MgO 3-7 wt-%, P.sub.2O.sub.5 0.5-2.5 wt-%, B.sub.2O.sub.3 1-4 wt-%, K.sub.2O>0.5 wt-%-4 wt-%, SrO 0-4 wt-%, and at most 0.3 wt-% in total of Al.sub.2O.sub.3 and Fe.sub.2O.sub.3. The invention also relates to glass fiber comprising the glass composition and use of the glass fiber in medical and nonmedical applications.

An inorganic fiber containing silica, alumina, one or more alkali metal oxides, and one or more of alkaline earth metal oxides, transition metal oxides, or lanthanide series metal oxides. The inorganic fiber exhibits good thermal performance at use temperatures of 1260° C. and greater, retains mechanical integrity after exposure to the use temperatures, is free of crystalline silica upon devitrification, is alkali flux resistant, exhibits low bio-persistence in an acidic medium, and exhibits low dissolution in a neutral medium. Also provided are thermal insulation products incorporating the inorganic fibers, a method for preparing the inorganic fiber and a method of thermally insulating articles using thermal insulation prepared from the inorganic fibers.

Compositions comprising a sol-gel derived glass, the sol-gel derived glass comprising two main components, the main components comprising a borate component and an alkaline earth metal component. Methods of making the compositions comprising combining precursor solutions containing boron ions, with alkaline earth metal ions to form a solution; gelling the solution to form a gel; drying the gel; and calcining the dried gel.

A glass ceramic manufactured by sequentially performing the processes of melting and thermal decomposition, water quenching and sintering of a glass composite. The glass ceramic includes 38 wt % to 49 wt % CaO, 41 wt % to 52 wt % SiO.sub.2 and 0.1 wt % to 20 wt % P.sub.2O.sub.5. The glass composite includes a glass component and P.sub.2O.sub.5, and the glass component includes CaCO.sub.3 and SiO.sub.2 and does not include an alkali metal oxide. The melting and thermal composition temperature is from 1350° C. to 1650° C. The sintering temperature is from 750° C. to 1050° C. By the combination of CaO, SiO.sub.2 and P.sub.2O.sub.5 and the control of the contents of CaO, SiO.sub.2 and P.sub.2O.sub.5 within the aforementioned ranges, and the glass ceramic contains no alkali metal oxide, the glass ceramic has good mechanical strength and low cytotoxicity.

The present invention relates to inorganic fibres having a composition comprising: 65.7 to 70.8 wt % SiO.sub.2; 27.0 to 34.2 wt % CaO; 0.10 to 2.0 wt % MgO; and optional other components providing the balance up to 100 wt %,
wherein the sum of SiO.sub.2 and CaO is greater than or equal to 97.8 wt %; and the other components, when present, comprise no more than 0.80 wt % Al.sub.2O.sub.3; and wherein the amount of MgO and other components are configured to inhibit the formation of surface crystallite grains upon heat treatment at 1100° C. for 24 hours, wherein said surface crystallite grains comprise an average crystallite size in a range of from 0.0 to 0.90 μm.

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 process for the manufacture of inorganic fibres comprises: (a) selecting a composition and proportion of: (i) silica sand; (ii) lime comprising at least 0.10 wt % magnesia; and (iii) optional additives comprising a source of oxides or non-oxides of one or more of the lanthanides series of elements, or combinations thereof; (b) mixing the silica sand; lime; and optional additives to form a mixture; (c) melting the mixture in a furnace; and (d) shaping the molten mixture into inorganic fibres. The raw materials selection comprises composition selection and proportion selection of the raw materials to obtain an inorganic fibre composition comprising a range of from 61.0 wt % and 70.8 wt % silica; less than 2.0 wt % magnesia; less than 2.0% incidental impurities; and no more than 2.0 wt % of metal oxides and/or metal non-oxides derived from said optional additives; with calcia providing the balance up to 100 wt %; and wherein the inorganic fibre composition comprises no more than 0.80 wt % Al.sub.20.sub.3 derived from the incidental impurities and/or the optional additives.

A bioactive glass composition for use in treating bone cancer includes 0.5-10 mol % gallium oxide or 1.0-20 mol % gallium nitrate/halide; 25 to 75 mol % silicon dioxide; 10 to 30 mol % calcium oxide and/or strontium oxide; up to 30 mol % sodium oxide; and up to 15 mol % phosphorous pentoxide. It may further comprise magnesium and/or potassium oxide. The bioactive glass composition may be positioned within a patient's bone post-surgery to promote apatite formation and to release gallium ions having a toxic effect on any remaining cancerous cells.

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.