Mechanical properties and in vitro bioactivity of silicon nitride ceramics with SiO , CaO, and MgO additions.

Silicon nitride ceramics with SiO , CaO, and MgO as sintering aids were investigated in view of biomedical applications. In the current study, samples with four different compositions were pressureless sintered at 1750 for 1 h under a nitrogen atmosphere. The samples were evaluated concerning densification, microstructure, mechanical properties, and in vitro bioactivity.