Effect of ultrasound irradiation on the production of nHAp/MWCNT nanocomposites

Large amounts of nanohydroxyapatite (nHAp)-multiwall carbon nanotube (MWCNT) nanocomposites are produced by two different aqueous precipitation methods. The ultrasonic irradiation (UI) and slow-drip addition under continuous magnetic stirring (DMS) methods were used to investigate the precipitation of nHAp acicular crystals. Calcium-nitrate, diammonium hydrogen phosphate, and ammonium hydroxide were used as precursor reagents. Superhydrophilic MWCNT were also employed. XPS analysis evidences that the functionalized MWCNTs are composed of 18 to 20 at.% of oxygen and that this property influences the nHAp formation. The high surface area of the MWCNT decreases the mean free path of ions, favoring the nHAp formation assisted by UI. The crystallinity was evaluated using the Scherrer equation. Semi-qualitative energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS) analysis showed that the main components of HAp powders were calcium and phosphorus in the ratio Ca/P around of 1.67. Bioactivity properties of the nHAp/MWCNT-UI nanocomposites could be evaluated after 14 days soaking in simulated body fluid medium. Scanning electron microscopy, EDS, Fourier transform infrared attenuated total reflection spectroscopy, and X-ray diffraction techniques proved that the apatites formed on the surface and to points that the nHAp/MWCNT-UI have potential biological applications.