Effect of vanadic anhydride and copper oxide on the development of hard porcelain composite and its antibacterial activity

A mullite-reinforced porcelain composite with antibacterial properties has been developed using transition metal oxides by solid state sintering. The composite has been characterized in terms of mullite content, hardness, color and antibacterial properties. The physico-chemical properties of the porcelain were substantially increased in the presence of V2O5 and CuO. Well-crystallized needle shaped mullite of average length ∼ 3 μm was observed in the porcelain body at 1300 °C and 1500 °C after the addition of V2O5 and CuO. Vickers hardness of the composite increased 4.2 times for 2% V2O5 at 1500 °C. The porcelain composites showed satisfactory antibacterial activity on gram negative bacteria Escherichia coli with mortality rates of 45% and 22% for V2O5 and CuO doped porcelain respectively.