Preparation of Hydroxyapatite from Buffalo Bone and its Biodegradable Nanocomposite with Poly(Butylene Adipate-co-Terephthalate)

Is report, the extraction process for highly nanocrystalline hydroxyapatite (HAp) by thermal decomposition of the femur bone of buffalo and its utilization as filler to produce nanocomposite with poly(butylene adipate-co-terephthalate) (PBAT). Advanced analytical techniques (such as X-ray diffraction [XRD], Fourier transform infrared [FTIR] spectroscopy, and scanning electron microscopy [SEM]) are employed to study the structural, chemical, and morphological properties of the HAp. The XRD analyses reveal that the crystallite size of HAp particles significantly increases from 10 (at 600 degrees C) to 40 nm (at 1100 degrees C) on increasing the calcination temperature. The formation of agglomerates (having diameters ranging from 1.75 to 2.72 mu m) with thin flake-like crystals of the HAp is revealed by the SEM analysis. The biodegradation properties of the 3D printed PBAT/HAp nanocomposites are investigated by water absorption and tris-buffer tests. The extent of water absorption of the nanocomposites is found to increase with the amount of the nanofiller.