Recently, the SiO₂-CaO-Na₂O–P₂O₅ bioactive glass-ceramic system has shown high potential in tissue engineering applications due to its excellent biocompatibility, mechanical properties and remarkable bonding features with living tissues. This work focused on the synthesis of bioactive Na₂Ca₂Si₃O₉ crystalline phase along with amorphous phase by conventional solid-state reaction route. 50% SiO₂, 23% CaO, 24% Na₂O and 3% P₂O₅ powders were mixed and heat-treated under oxidizing environment at 800-1000°C for about 10 hours to attain the required structure. The X-ray diffraction (XRD) and Fourier transforms infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) were employed to investigate the effects of heat treatment temperature on the formation and stability of the Na₂Ca₂Si₃O₉ crystal phase. The resulting phase morphology was further examinedby the field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM). The XRD, FTIR and FESEM studies confirmed the formation of glassy phase above 950°C. However, it wasobserved that phosphorous rich silicorhenanite phase (Na₂Ca₄(PO₄)₂SiO₄) decreased with increasing heat treatment temperature which might have great effect on bioactivity.

Keywords: Bioactive; Glass-ceramic; SiO₂-CaO-Na₂O–P₂O₅; Solid state reaction; Na₂Ca₂Si₃O₉ crystal