Microwave irradiation enhances kinetics of the biomimetic process of hydroxyapatite nanocomposites

• Published in: Bioinspiration & biomimetics Vol. 5; no. 2; p. 024001
• Main Authors: Guha, Avijit, Nayar, Suprabha, Thatoi, H N
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England IOP Publishing 01.06.2010
• Subjects: Biomimetic Materials - chemistry; Biomimetic Materials - radiation effects; Bone Substitutes - chemistry; Bone Substitutes - radiation effects; Crystallization - methods; Durapatite - chemistry; Durapatite - radiation effects; Kinetics; Materials Testing; Microwaves; Nanostructures - chemistry; Nanostructures - radiation effects; Nanostructures - ultrastructure; Radiation Dosage
• ISSN: 1748-3190; 1748-3182; 1748-3190
• DOI: 10.1088/1748-3182/5/2/024001

In situ synthesized hydroxyapatite-poly(vinyl) alcohol nanocomposite was subjected to microwave irradiation, post synthesis. Interestingly, the aging time of 1 week required for the normal biomimetic process was reduced to 1 h post microwave irradiation, as characterized by x-ray powder diffraction and transmission electron microscopy. The surface topography shows the tendency of tubules to cross-link with the help of microwave energy. The microwave energy seems to provide a directional pull to the polymer chains which could have led to an enhancement of the kinetics of phase formation.