Fabrication of porous hydroxyapatite-carbon nanotubes composite

• HA nano crystals were synthesized by hydrothermal treatment.
• Porous HA/MWCNTs composites were fabricated by polymeric sponge method.
• Tailored pore structured ceramics were obtained by double firing method.
• Fabricated ceramics could be useful for biomedical and environmental applications.

Porous hydroxyapatite (HA)/carbon nanotubes (CNTs) composites were produced by using polymeric sponge route through double firing method (500 °C for 0.5 h and 1000 °C for 1 h). HA nano crystals were synthesized by the hydrothermal method at 200 °C for 2 h and mixed with aqueous CNTs suspension. For the functionalization of CNTs, acidic treatment was used. Polyvinyl Alcohol (PVA) was used as a binder for the formation process of HA/CNTs composite ceramics. Addition of CNTs can enhance its mechanical, biological and filtration performance of the porous HA/CNTs composite ceramics. The novelty of this paper relies on the fabrication of the HA/CNTs composites have been accomplished with tailored pore structure. The research shows that developed new technique is able to design and control pore structure of ceramic/CNTs composite for potential use in biomedical and environmental applications.