Development and Characterisation of Silver, Zirconia, Hydroxyapatite, and Graphene Nanoparticles Reinforced Titania-Based Nanocomposites
摘要
Titanium (Ti) and its alloys are the most used materials in dental applications due to their superior mechanical, morphological, and biological properties. However, clinical failures have been observed in some cases, which can be mitigated by reinforcing nanoparticles (NPs) with Ti and its alloys. In this research, various percentages of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs), zirconia nanoparticles (ZrO2NPs), hydroxyapatite nanoparticles (HANPs), and graphene nanoparticles were reinforced with titanium dioxide (TiO2) during sintering to form a nanocomposite. Two types of nanocomposite samples have been developed, varying the AgNP percentage. The developed nanocomposite samples have been characterisedusing hardness and average roughness measurements, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), field emission scanning electron microscopy, and X-ray diffraction (XRD). Both samples exhibited higher hardness due to greaterreinforcement levels. However, a higher Rockwell hardness C value was achieved in sample 2 due to its higher AgNP concentration. Both samples exhibit high average surface roughness, which is conducive to improved osseointegration. FTIR analysis identifies functional groups such as Ti–OH, C–H, and –OH, which contribute to the materials’ biocompatibility. The NPs are uniformly distributed in the samples. Crystallinity is confirmed by the sharp peaks formed in the XRD spectra.