Zinc Matrix Composites Reinforced with Partially Unzipped Carbon Nanotubes as Biodegradable Implant Materials

Abstract

The activity of zinc is between that of magnesium and iron, and it has a suitable degradation rate and good biocompatibility. It has been regarded as a very promising biodegradable metal material for biomedicine. However, the insufficient mechanical properties of pure Zn limit its practical application in the field of orthopedic implants. In this paper, partially unzipped carbon nanotubes (PUCNTs) obtained by meridionally cutting multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) were used as reinforcements and combined with spark plasma sintering to prepare partially unzipped carbon nanotube reinforced Zn matrix composites. The effects of PUCNT addition on the microstructure and the mechanical properties of Zn matrix composites were investigated. The microstructure analysis showed the good interface bonding between PUCNTs and the Zn matrix. Additionally, the strength of PUCNTs/Zn composites showed a trend of increasing first and then decreasing with the PUCNT content increases. When the PUCNT content was 0.2 wt%, the tensile strength and yield strength of composites were about 78.4% and 64.4% higher than that of pure Zn, respectively, while maintaining a high elongation (62.6%).

Highly Biocompatible Apigenin-Loaded Silk Fibroin Nanospheres: Preparation, Characterization, and Anti-Breast-Cancer Activity

“…The morphological characteristics of SF-AGN were investigated using transmission electron microscopy (TEM, FEI Talos F200X, FEI Corporation, Hillsboro, OR, USA). Sample preparation for TEM was performed with a 0.2 mg/mL suspension of nanospheres in pure water followed by sonication for 3 min with an amplitude of 30% [ 20 ]. A drop of this suspension was placed on a 200-mesh copper mesh coated with carbon.…”

Degradation behavior, cytotoxicity, hemolysis of partially unzipped carbon nanotubes/zinc composites as potential biodegradable bone implants

“…Firstly, 1 g of MWCNTs were mechanically stirred in a mixture consisted of H 2 SO 4 (200 ml) and H 3 PO 4 (27 ml) at room temperature for 1 h. Subsequently, 2 g of KMnO 4 was slowly added to the mixed solution to deoxidize MWCNTs at 65 • C for 1 h. After the reaction, MWCNTs were washed by the deionized water and centrifuged for three times. Finally, the PUCNTs powder was achieved by freeze-drying for 48 h [19]. Tables 1-3 list the relevant information on Zn powder, MWCNTs, chemical reagents and experimental equipment, respectively.…”

“…Compared with pure Cu, Ti and Li, the graphene nano-sheets (GNS) or carbon nanotubes (CNTs) exhibit a higher UTS, which is considered to be a promising material for improving the mechanical properties of the metals and alloy. Recently, some literatures also reported that the mechanical properties of pure Zn can be effectively enhanced by compounding it with a few GNS or CNTs [16][17][18][19]. Ao et al [18] and Fan et al [16,19] prepared Zn matrix composites with a high UTS by the addition of multiwall CNTs (MWCNTs) or partially unzipped CNTs (PUCNTs).…”

“…Recently, some literatures also reported that the mechanical properties of pure Zn can be effectively enhanced by compounding it with a few GNS or CNTs [16][17][18][19]. Ao et al [18] and Fan et al [16,19] prepared Zn matrix composites with a high UTS by the addition of multiwall CNTs (MWCNTs) or partially unzipped CNTs (PUCNTs). For the MWCNTs/Zn composites, its UTS can reach to 281 MPa, whereas EL is lower than 4%.…”

The Use of Carbon-Containing Compounds to Prepare Functional and Structural Composite Materials: A Review

“…From the point of view of practical use, low-density values are extremely important: ~1.4 g/cm 3 for SWCNTs and ~1.8 g/cm 3 for MWCNTs. High heating rates (up to 1000 K/min) reduce the sintering duration, which makes it possible to limit grain growth, and in the case of metal-MWCNT systems, it becomes possible to limit the formation of an undesirable carbide phase during consolidation [71,72].…”