Using niobium crucibles for melting phosphate and silicate glasses of various modifier oxide contents, and therefore varying optical basicity (Λ), was found to result in varying dissolution rates of niobate during melting. Because of their high electronic polarizability, even small concentrations of niobates are detectable in the Raman spectra of glasses. Even less than 1 mol% Nb2O5 can be identified, as independently confirmed...

A set of fifteen calcium-phosphate-silicate glass samples, varying in alkali, magnesium, silicon, and nitrogen content, was prepared, and their structural, thermal, and in vitro dissolution properties were analyzed. Infrared spectroscopy showed a high degree of depolymerization of the silicate network consisting mainly of Q2 and Q3 units. Thermal analysis showed that the silicon content primarily affects both the glass transition...

Niobium doped biosolubility glasses in the Na–Ca–(Mg)–P–Si–O system were prepared by using an untypical two-step synthesis route. The parent glass was melted in air atmosphere at 1350 °C followed by re-melting the glass in Nb crucible with the addition of metallic Mg/Ca powder in the nitrogen atmosphere. The second melting step was carried out at 1450–1650 °C, using an induction furnace. The topography and structure of the obtained...