Akermanite-based ceramics from Moroccan dolomite and perlite: Characterization and in vitro bioactivity assessment

The present paper focuses on the elaboration and characterization of akermanite-rich bioceramics from abundantly available local dolomite and perlite. Different mixtures have been prepared for low-cost ceramic manufacturing by uniaxial pressing method and firing at 1250 °C for 2 h. The obtained results showed that akermanite is the predominant crystalline phase through the addition of natural perlite for a maximum of 30% in weight, accompanied by some small traces of diopside and periclase. The experimental results indicated that the sample M2-B (25 wt% of perlite) is the optimized body from all the tested specimens. The optimized ceramic was subjected to an SBF test to evaluate the bioactivity of the sample, and experimentally the combination between the microstructural and the mineralogical composition of the obtained material after soaking in SBF solution has confirmed the quality of the developed bioceramic by the formation of apatite layer.