Hydroxyapatite/MgO Composites from Biowaste Pokea Clam Shells (Batissa violacea): Structure and Mechanical Properties for Medical Application

Abstract

In this research, hydroxyapatite was prepared from Pokea clam shells as home industrial waste by a hydrothermal method. HAp-MgO composites were successfully synthesized through an in-situ hydrothermal technique. The impact of MgO incorporation on the mechanical characteristics of HAp and its composites with 5 wt.% MgO was investigated. An X-ray diffraction (XRD) was used for samples characterization and to assess their phase stabilities. The existence of MgO in the composite material was indicated by its specific peaks at 37.6° and 26.7°. Several indices, including both hardness and compressive strength, were used to measure the mechanical characteristics of genuine HAp and HAp-MgO composite. We found that the inclusion of MgO considerably improved HAp's mechanical characteristics and particle growth. The best mechanical properties were observed in the HAp-MgO composite sintered at 900^oC with 5 wt.% MgO. This composite exhibited a hardness of 30.72 VHN and a compressive strength of 3.12 MPa. The present study recommends that composites with mechanical properties are suitable for biomedical purposes.