Browsing by Author "Siddeswara, R."

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    Enhancing Strength Properties of Hydroxyapatite Composites with Bentonite Clay
    (Taylor and Francis Ltd., 2025) Satish, P.; Hadagalli, K.; Nowl, M.S.; Siddeswara, R.; Kalikeri, S.; Mandal, S.
    The main inorganic component of human hard tissues is hydroxyapatite (HA, Ca10(PO4)6(OH)2) and the mechanical and biological performance of HA can be improved by incorporating clay minerals to create HA-clay composite scaffolds. This study demonstrates a high-strength biocomposite of HA and bentonite with a significant reduction of open porosity, considering bentonite clay for its biocompatibility. Prawn shells (Fenneropenaeus indicus - marine resource) were utilized as a sustainable source of calcium to synthesize high-purity HA through a wet-chemical process, offering an innovative approach to valorize bio-waste. HA-bentonite clay composites were made by compacting 10-40 wt% of bentonite clay with HA using uniaxial pressing, followed by sintering at 1100°C for 2 h. Characterization techniques like X-ray diffraction, Raman, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and field emission scanning electron microscopy verified the phases, structures, vibrational bonds and morphology of the synthesized materials. Energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy and inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry analysis were performed for elemental composition and heavy metal detection, respectively. The HA-bentonite (30 wt%) composite achieved an exceptional compressive strength of 155 MPa and an open porosity of 7%, surpassing bare HA. Adding 30% bentonite increased compressive strength six fold and decreased open porosity by 51% compared to bare HA. This novel approach to HA-bentonite scaffolds promises enhanced wear resistance and cellular proliferation in bone tissue engineering. © 2025 Indian Ceramic Society.