DEVELOPMENT OF SNAIL SHELL SYNTHESIZED HYDROXYAPATITE REINFORCED EPOXY COMPOSITES FOR BIOMEDICAL APPLICATION

Abstract

In this study, hydroxyapatite powder (HAp) was synthesized from calcined snail shell, and the effect of the synthesized HAp as a reinforcing element on some properties of HAp/ epoxy composite and its characterized microstructure was determined. It also correlated the elemental composition and micro- structures of the developed composite with their wear, water absorption and mechanical properties. This was with a view to developing biocomposite for medical application. Hydroxyapatite particulate (HAp) was synthesized from snail shell using the hydrothermal method. The synthesized HAp was characterized using SEM and EDS to examine the surface morphology and elemental composition, respectively. The HAp/Epoxy composite was developed using open mould casting method with varying reinforcement content of; 2, 4, 6, 8 and 10 wt.%. The cured composite samples were subjected to mechanical and wear tests while the fractured surface of the developed composites was examined with SEM. The results from the tests revealed that, the mechanical and wear resistance properties of the developed composites were improved compared to the unreinforced epoxy material. Composite with 2 wt % reinforcement having a value of 40.71 MPa for the ultimate tensile strength and 30.49 MPa for flexural strength at peak gave the best responses while higher reinforcement content between 6 –10 wt.% gave the best result with respect to modulus and hardness. The SEM revealed uniform dispersion of HAp in the epoxy matrix with good interfacial bonding. These results suggest that the bioactive HAp/Epoxy composites have the potential for use as an alternative material for load-bearing orthopedic applications.