Highly purity bioactive glass and method for the production thereof

1 . A high-purity bioactive glass, comprising:

SiO 2 in the range of 35-86 based on a percent per weight of the total composition;

Na 2 O in the range of 5.5-35 based on a percent per weight of the total composition;

CaO in the range of 4-46 based on a percent per weight of the total composition;

P 2 O 5 in the range of 1-15 based on a percent per weight of the total composition; and

one or more additional substances having a total percent per weight of the total composition in the range of 0.05-15, wherein the high-purity bioactive glass is produced in a radio_frequency-heated skull crucible and has a ratio of Na 2 O+P 2 O 5 to SiO 2 of at least 0.18.

2 . The high-purity bioactive glass as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the SiO 2 has a percent per weight of the total composition in the range of 40-86 and the Na 2 O has a percent per weight of the total composition in the range of 6.5-35.

3 . The high-purity bioactive glass as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the one or more additional substances have one or more substances selected from the group consisting of Ag 2 O, Cu 2 O, CuO, ZnO, SnO, Bi 2 O 3 , Ce 2 O 3 , NiO, CoO, and any combinations thereof.

4 . The high-purity bioactive glass as claimed in claim 3 , wherein the sum of Na 2 O, Ag 2 O and Cu 2 O is greater than or equal to 6% by weight.

5 . The high-purity bioactive glass as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the high-purity bioactive glass is produced in a continuous melting process.

6 . The high-purity bioactive glass as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the high-purity bioactive glass is produced in a discontinuous melting process.

7 . The high-purity bioactive glass as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the radio frequency-heated skull crucible has water-cooled metal tubes made of a material selected from the group consisting of copper, special steel, platinum metal, platinum alloy, and aluminum metal.

8 . The high-purity bioactive glass as claimed in claim 7 , wherein the water-cooled metal tubes have plastic-coated metal tubes.

9 . The high-purity bioactive glass as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the high-purity bioactive glass is taken off at a glass outlet positioned at the top of the radio frequency-heated skull crucible, and in which a water-cooled, metallic bridge is immersed in a melt of the high-purity bioactive glass and separates a batch area of the radio frequency-heated skull crucible from the glass outlet.

10 . The high-purity bioactive glass as claimed in claim 9 , wherein the degree of mixing in the batch area is additionally increased by bubbling.

11 . A process for producing a high-purity bioactive glass comprising:

adding a plurality of glass components to a radio frequency-heated skull crucible, the plurality of glass components comprising SiO 2 in a range of 35 to 86 based on a percent weight of the total composition, Na 2 O in a range of 5.5 to 35 based on a percent weight of the total composition, CaO in a range of 4 to 46 based on a percent weight of the total composition, P 2 O 5 in a range of 1 to 15 based on a percent weight of the total composition, and additional substances in a range of 0.05 to 15 based on a percent weight of the total composition, wherein a ratio of Na 2 O+P 2 O 5 to SiO 2 is at least 0.18; and

controlling the radio frequency-heated skull crucible to form a glass melt from the plurality of glass components.

12 . The process for producing the high-purity bioactive glass as claimed in claim 11 , wherein the glass melt has a homogenous and constant composition.

13 . The process for producing the high-purity bioactive glass as claimed in claim 11 , wherein the process is a continuous melting process or a discontinuous melting process.

14 . The process for producing the high-purity bioactive glass as claimed in claim 11 , further comprising taking the glass melt from a glass outlet at a top of the radio frequency-heated skull crucible.

15 . The process for producing the high-purity bioactive glass as claimed in claim 14 , further comprising immersing a water-cooled, metallic bridge in the glass melt to define a batch area and the glass outlet.

16 . The process for producing the high-purity bioactive glass as claimed in claim 15 , further comprising introducing bubbles to the glass melt in the batch area to mix the glass melt.

17 . A high-purity bioactive glass, comprising:

SiO 2 in a range of 35 to 86 based on a percent weight of the total composition;

Na 2 O in a range of 5.5 to 35 based on a percent weight of the total composition;

CaO in a range of 4 to 46 based on a percent weight of the total composition; and

P 2 O 5 in a range of 1 to 15 based on a percent weight of the total composition, wherein a ratio of Na 2 O+P 2 O 5 to SiO 2 is at least 0.18.

18 . The high-purity bioactive glass as claimed in claim 17 , further comprising one or more additional substances in a range of 0.05 to 15 based on a percent weight of the total composition.

19 . The high-purity bioactive glass as claimed in claim 18 , wherein the one or more additional substances is at least one substance selected from the group consisting of Ag 2 O, Cu 2 O, CuO, ZnO, SnO, Bi 2 O 3 , Ce 2 O 3 , NiO, CoO, and any combinations thereof.

20 . The high-purity bioactive glass as claimed in claim 19 , wherein the sum of Na 2 O, Ag 2 O and Cu 2 O is greater than or equal to 6 percent weight of the total composition.