Pdxl 2 analysis software

Thermogravimetric and differential thermal analyses (DTA) of the polyurethane foam were performed at a heating rate of either 2 or 55ºC per minute to determine the temperature range for thermal decomposition of the polymeric scaffold (Q600 DTA/TGA, TA Instruments). Differential thermal analyses were further performed on the powdered glass under nitrogen gas flow to determine glass transition and crystallization temperatures as a function of heating rate. Analyses were performed at 2, 10, 20, 30, 40 and 55 °C/min. up to 1100°C. Aluminum oxide (99.99%) served as reference standard. Glasses or glass-ceramics were analyzed by x-ray diffraction (XRD) on powdered scaffolds. Scans were performed in the two-theta range 10–90° (40 kV; 44 mA) in Bragg-Brentano configuration (SmartLab, Rigaku Americas). Where applicable, peak positions were determined using PDXL-2 analysis software (Rigaku Corporation). Peak position was calibrated using silicon powder standard (NIST, 640d).

Scaffold macrostructural features were investigated by scanning electron microscopy (Hitachi S-4800 field emission SEM) on sintered scaffolds. Specimens were sputter-coated with gold prior to SEM examination. Mean pore diameter and strut thickness were measured on digital micrographs (n = 4 per group) using publicly available image analysis software (NIH Image J 1.48v [26 (link)]).
The mean density of the porous scaffolds (ρ_scaffold) was calculated from the measured mass and volume of the sintered cylinders (n = 10). The bulk density of the scaffold struts (ρ_solid) (n = 10) was determined by helium pycnometry (AccuPyc II 1340, Micromeritics). The porosity p of the scaffolds was calculated using the following equation:
$$p=1-\frac{{\rho }_{\mathit{\text{scaffold}}}}{{\rho }_{\mathit{\text{solid}}}}$$
The crystalline phases present after sintering were analyzed by x-ray diffraction (XRD) on powdered scaffolds. Scans were performed in the two-theta range 10–90° (40 kV; 44 mA) in Bragg-Brentano configuration (SmartLab, Rigaku Americas). Peak position was calibrated using silicon powder standard (NIST, 640d). XRD patterns were analyzed using PDXL-2 analysis software (Rigaku Corporation). Additional scans were performed in grazing incidence (GIXRD) on bulk glass-ceramic pellets to determine the nature of surface crystalline phases (omega incidence angle of 3 degrees in parallel beam optics configuration).

Differential thermal analyses were performed on powdered specimens under
nitrogen gas flow to determine glass transition and crystallization temperatures
(Q600 DTA/TGA, TA Instruments). Specimens were powdered using an agate mortar
and pestle. Analyses were performed at a heating rate of 40 °C/min. up
to 1100°C. Aluminum oxide (99.99%) powder served as reference
standard. Disc-shaped specimens were cut from the ingots and heat treated at
temperatures ranging from 775 to 900°C for one hour at a heating rate of
2°C per minute. This temperature range was selected according to the DTA
results. Crystalline phases were characterized by x-ray diffraction (XRD) on
powdered specimens. Scans were performed in the two-theta range
10–90°, at 40 kV and 44 mA in Bragg-Brentano configuration
(SmartLab, Rigaku Americas, Inc.). Peak positions were determined using PDXL-2
analysis software (Rigaku Corporation) after calibration using silicon powder
standard (NIST, 640d). Lattice parameters were determined by Rietveld
refinement^{41 –43} and compared to published
values and powder diffraction files to assess the amount of strontium
incorporated in each crystalline phase.