Inorganic fibers including the following composition, SiO.sub.2, MgO and CaO being main components: SiO.sub.2: 73.6 wt % to 85.9 wt %, MgO: 9.0 wt % to 21.3 wt %, CaO: 5.1 wt % to 12.4 wt %, Al.sub.2O.sub.3: 0 wt % or more and less than 2.3 wt %, and Fe.sub.2O.sub.3: 0 wt % to 0.50 wt %.

A glass, glass-ceramic, or ceramic bead is described, with an internal porous scaffold microstructure that is surrounded by an amorphous shield. The shield serves to protect the internal porous microstructure of the shield while increasing the overall strength of the porous microstructure and improve the flowability of the beads either by themselves or in devices such as biologically degradable putty that would be used in bone or soft tissue augmentation or regeneration. The open porosity present inside the bead will allow for enhanced degradability in-vivo as compared to solid particles or spheres and also promote the growth of tissues including but not limited to all types of bone, soft tissue, blood vessels, and nerves.

Disclosed herein are methods for functionalizing the surface of a biomedical implant. The biomedical implant may be a zirconia-toughened alumina implant surface functionalized with silicon nitride powder for promoting osteogenesis.

The invention relates to resorbable, biocompatible and preferably bioactive glass fibers which are coated with a sizing comprising thermoplastic, resorbable and biocompatible compatibilizer, wherein the polyester is covalently bonded to the glass fibers through a coupling agent with at least one silane moiety. The fiber preferably is manufactured through a process wherein a volatile amine is present as temporal processing aid. The invention further relates to a method for coating a resorbable, biocompatible glass fiber, to a kit for coating a glass fiber, to a composite comprising said coated glass fiber, and to a medical device comprising said composite.

The invention relates to a resorbable and biocompatible glass fiber bundle characterized in that the glass fibers of the bundle have an average diameter in the range of 5-30 m, as measured according to ASTM D1577-01 C, the glass fiber bundle having a coefficient of variation at most 15%. The invention also pertains to, and a method of obtaining this glass fiber bundle. Also, the invention relates to composites and medical devices produced with said glass fiber bundle.

An inorganic fiber containing silica and magnesia as the major fiber components and which further includes intended addition of lithium oxide to improve the thermal stability of the fiber. The inorganic fiber exhibits good thermal performance at 1260 C. and greater, low linear shrinkage, retains mechanical integrity after exposure to the use temperature, and exhibits low biopersistence in physiological fluids. Also provided are thermal insulation product forms prepared from a plurality of the inorganic fibers, methods of preparing the inorganic fiber and of thermally insulating articles using thermal insulation prepared from a plurality of the inorganic fibers.

A process of preparing a glass comprising: (a) heating a mixture of precursor chemicals to a melt temperature to form a melt, the melt being characterized in that quenching the melt at or above a threshold temperature results in a spinodal phase separation, and quenching the melt below the threshold temperature results in a droplet phase separation; and (b) quenching the melt at or above the threshold temperature in a preheated mold to form the glass composition having the spinodal phase separation.

An inorganic fiber containing silica and magnesia as the major fiber components which further includes intended synergistic amounts of calcia and, an additional alkali metal oxide other than magnesia, such as lithium oxide, to improve the thermal performance and manufacturability of the fiber. The inorganic fiber is easier to manufacture, has a better fiber quality, exhibits good thermal performance at a use temperature of 1260 C. and greater, retains mechanical integrity after exposure to the use temperature, and exhibits low biopersistence in physiological fluids. Also provided are methods of preparing the inorganic fiber and of thermally insulating articles using thermal insulation prepared from the inorganic fibers.

An inorganic fiber containing silica and magnesia as the major fiber components and which further includes intended addition of lithium oxide to improve the thermal stability of the fiber. The inorganic fiber exhibits good thermal performance at 1260 C. and greater, low linear shrinkage, retains mechanical integrity after exposure to the use temperature, and exhibits low biopersistence in physiological fluids. Also provided are thermal insulation product forms prepared from a plurality of the inorganic fibers, methods of preparing the inorganic fiber and of thermally insulating articles using thermal insulation prepared from a plurality of the inorganic fibers.

A method of manufacturing a resorbable, macroporous bioactive glass scaffold comprising approximately 24-45% CaO, 34-50% SiO.sub.2, 0-25% Na.sub.2O, 5-17% P.sub.2O.sub.5, 0-5% MgO and 0-1% CaF.sub.2 by mass percent, produced by mixing with pore forming agents and specified heat treatments.