Silicon nitride based biocomposites prepared by alkaline activation
DE LA TORRE OLVERA G. 1, TAVERI G. 2, BERTOLLA L. 3, LABUDOVA M. 4, HNATKO M. 1,2, TATARKOVÁ M. 1
1 Institute of Inorganic Chemistry, Slovak Academy of Sciences, Bratislava, Slovakia; 2 Centre for Advanced Materials Application (CEMEA), SAS, Bratislava , Slovakia; 3 Institute of Physics of Materials of the Czech Academy of Sciences, CEITEC IPM, Brno, Czechia; 4 Biomedical Research Center of the Slovak Academy of Sciences, Bratislava, Slovakia
This work aimed to develop a biocomposite material based on silicon nitride by alkaline activation to reinforce the matrix. Studying different compositions that could improve the biocomposite and properties of the Si3N4 matrix without reducing its mechanical properties was essential. It was calculated the hardness of a composition of 50 percent silicon nitride and 50 percent of the matrix resulting a value of 113.94 HV average. The samples were calcinated using a furnace in an ambient atmosphere to ensure the best combination of mechanical properties, such as relative density, compressive strength, and hardness. The capability of treated samples to form hydroxyapatite was assessed by scanning electron microscopy. In vitro testing of the materials with human pulmonary fibroblast cells (MRC5) was used to determine the specimens' potential cytotoxicity and cell viability.