Physical Characterization of Bismuth Oxide Nanoparticle Based Ceramic Composite for Future Biomedical Application

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Nanotechnology
• Civil Engineering

Background:

• Bismuth oxide nanoparticles (BiONPs) are eco-friendly materials with potential applications in composite materials.
• Bio-cement composites are used in various construction applications, and their properties can be enhanced by incorporating nanoparticles.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the effect of eco-friendly bismuth oxide nanoparticles (BiONPs) on the properties of bio-cement composites.
• To evaluate the impact of using water as a dispersion medium for BiONPs in bio-cement.

Main Methods:

• BiONPs-composite preparation using a standard method, with and without water as a dispersion medium.
• Thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) to assess weight loss and thermal stability.
• Three-point bending tests and nanoindentation to evaluate mechanical properties (flexural strength, modulus, hardness).

Main Results:

• Water as a dispersion medium led to higher weight losses (up to 2 wt.%) compared to water-free preparation (0.8 wt.%).
• BiONPs incorporation decreased the depth of curing and flexural strength with increasing nanoparticle content.
• Bio-cement composites prepared without water exhibited significantly higher flexural strength (28.45 MPa) compared to water-based ones (10.40 MPa).
• Nanoindentation revealed superior mechanical properties (modulus 26.4 GPa, hardness 0.46 GPa) for composites prepared without water.

Conclusions:

• The use of water as a dispersion medium is detrimental to the overall characteristics of BiONPs-bio-cement composites.
• Despite the negative impact of water, BiONPs demonstrate significant potential as a reinforcing filler in bio-cement applications.
• Optimizing the dispersion method, avoiding water, is crucial for maximizing the benefits of BiONPs in bio-cement.