Mechanical Properties of Bulk Nanocomposite Biomaterial

Abstract

The mechanical properties of bulk nanocomposite (BNC) material prepared from an aqueous dispersion of bovine serum albumin (25 wt. %) and carbon nanotubes (~0.4 wt. %) under laser radiation were studied. The following parameters were varied during the tests: radiation power and duration, nanotube type and concentration, drying time and temperature. The BNC material has density 1200-1250 kg/m³, tensile strength σ ~35 MPa, and hardness by Vickers scale (H_V) ~350 MPa, which is four to five times higher than that of dried albumin. The specific hardness 0.28 MPa/(kg/m³) and strength 0.026 MPa/(kg/m³) of the nanomaterial match those of human porous bone tissue. A mechanism for hardening the nanomaterial by forming a bulk nanocomposite framework of nanotubes was suggested.