Comparative study on physicochemical and mechanical characterization of new nanocarbon-based hydroxyapatite nanocomposites

Abstract

This study evaluated the effect of different additives such as nanocarbon compounds (0.5, 1.0, and 2.0wt.%) with different morphologies and gelatin (Gel) (10 wt.%) on the mechanical properties of hydroxyapatite (Hap)- based nanocomposites (NCs). The NCs were prepared using the innovation process “SmartBox” based on the Internet of things (IoT), which provides process control and reproducibility, and they were characterized by X-ray diffraction, particle size distribution, transmission electron microscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, and thermal analysis. The compressive strength tests demonstrated that the use of grapheme oxide (Hap_GO_2.0 - 133 N/mm2 ), and/or Gel (Hap_Gel - 152 N/mm2 ) as additives to reinforce Hap (106 N/mm2 ) is more appropriate than the use of single functionalized multiwalled carbon nanotubes (Hap_fMWCNT_1.0 - 110 N/mm2 ) and fullerene (Hap_Ful_0.5 - 106 N/mm2).