Wollastonite-containing glass-ceramics from the CaO–Al2O3–SiO2 and CaO–MgO–SiO2 ternary systems

Glass-ceramics (GCs) are polycrystalline materials produced from parent glasses by the controlled crystallization that results in crystalline phase(s) embedded in a residual amorphous matrix. Typically, GCs are produced by a conventional glass route with subsequent crystallization for which two heat treatments are usually applied, the former to generate nuclei and the latter being a crystal growth stage. Alternatively, another technically viable route for manufacturing GCs involves sintering of glass-powder compacts followed by crystallization (sinter-crystallization). Wollastonite-containing GCs from the CaO–Al2O3–SiO2 and CaO–MgO–SiO2 systems find a wide variety of uses in different technological fields, including construction, architecture, medical and high-tech fields. For example, a special type of wollastonite-containing GC marketed under the name of Neoparies®, which is stronger and lighter than natural stone, features high resistance to weathering/chemical attack and is manufactured on a large scale for construction and architectural applications. In the biomedical field, the well-known Cerabone® products have been used in bone-contact applications for many years. The main goal of this brief review is to provide a critical analysis of the experimental trials focusing on the synthesis of wollastonite-containing GC materials and to discuss the various fields of their application. Constitution of phase diagram of CaO–Al2O3–SiO2 and CaO–MgO–SiO2 systems are comprehensively discussed with connection to melt crystallization path and crystalline phase formation. Furthermore, special emphasis will be given to the production of wollastonite-containing GCs for construction and architectural purposes from natural raw materials and wastes, as well as to the recent advancement in developing wollastonite-containing GC biomaterials for bone repair.