Synthesis of hydroxyapatite nanorods and its use as a nanoreinforcement block for ethylene methacrylate copolymer matrix

Abstract: The use of anisotropic ceramic nanofillers as a reinforcing agent has been nurtured from the birth of polymer nanocomposites due to their superior physico-mechanical attributes, flexibility and optical transparency. Herein, synthesized hydroxyapatite was used to fabricate clay–polymer nanocomposites by a simple wet process. The surface-active polar functionalities of hydroxyapatite are highly prone to physisorbed with ethylene methacrylate copolymeric chains which boosts the strengthening of the nanocomposites. The cryo-fractured electron microscopic analysis showed dispersed nonphase separation morphology which was clearly reflected by improvement in uniaxial mechanical property. Moreover, the electrical conductivity was experimented which implied the AC responsive character due to the abundance of polar functionalities present in the respective composites. The increase in DC conductivity with filled polymer signified the interconnected pathway formation by nanofillers inside the polymer matrix. The superior dispersion was seen from the optical transparency where the nanofiller-confined composites have no drastic change in transparency. Graphical abstract: [Figure not available: see fulltext.].