Properties of reduced graphene/carbon nanotubes reinforced calcium phosphate bone cement in a microwave environment

In this work, the setting process of reduced graphene (RGO)/carbon nanotubes (CNTs) reinforced calcium phosphate cement (CPC) were conducted in a microwave environment. The introduction of microwave can increase the reaction temperature, speed up the vibration of water molecules and eliminate bubbles from the interface between RGO, CNTs and the substrate. Comparing with CPC without microwave treatment, the final setting time of composites after microwave treatment are almost a half, the flexural strength and the compressive strength are increased by 19.86% and 21.68% respectively, which are 17.38 MPa and 104.52 MPa. Meanwhile, the CPC composites remain the excellent bioactivity.