Composite material and method of manufacturing composite material

• US 10,208,302 B2
• Filed: 12/21/2015
• Issued: 02/19/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 07/03/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Koito Manufacturing Company Limited
• Original Assignee: Koito Manufacturing Company Limited
• Inventors: Enomoto, Kiminori, Daicho, Hisayoshi, Shinomiya, Yu
• Primary Examiner(s): Fan, Lynn Y
• Application Number:
  US14/977,324
• Publication Number:
  US 20160102302A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,156 Days
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2430/02 for reconstruction of bones; weight-bearing implants
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 27/425 of phosphorus containing material, e.g. apatite
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 27/46 with phosphorus-containing inorganic fillers
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 27/1806 with alkaline or alkaline earth metals
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 27/1856 with platinum group metals
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 35/30 characterised by their physical properties
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 35/39 Photocatalytic properties
• CPC Class Codes: C01B 25/32 Phosphates of magnesium, calcium, strontium, or barium
• CPC Class Codes: C01B 25/455 containing halogen completely halogenated alkali metal phosphates C01D, e.g. lithium hexafluorophosphate C01D15/005
• CPC Class Codes: C01P 2004/13 Nanotubes
• CPC Class Codes: C12N 11/14 Enzymes or microbial cells immobilised on or in an inorganic carrier
• CPC Class Codes: C30B 29/14 Phosphates
• CPC Class Codes: C30B 29/602 Nanotubes
• CPC Class Codes: C30B 29/66 Crystals of complex geometrical shape, e.g. tubes, cylinders
• CPC Class Codes: C30B 7/105 using ammonia as solvent, i.e. ammonothermal processes

Abstract

A composite material includes: an apatite crystal in the form of a tube; and a functional component accommodated in the apatite crystal tube and constituted by a material having physical properties different from those of the apatite crystal. The apatite crystal may be a monocrystal given by the general formula M²₅(PO₄)₃X, where M² denotes at least one element selected from the group consisting of divalent alkali earth metals and Eu, and X denotes at least one element or molecule selected from the group consisting of halogens and OH.

Claims

1. A composite material comprising:

a tubular apatite monocrystal given by the general formula M²₅(PO₄)₃X,

where M² denotes at least one element selected from the group consisting of divalent alkali earth metals and Eu, and X denotes Cl; and

a functional component accommodated in the tubular apatite monocrystal and constituted by a material of physical properties different from those of the tubular apatite monocrystal.

2. The composite material according to claim 1, wherein the tubular apatite monocrystal has a transmittance of at least 65% with respect to visible light.

3. The composite material according to claim 1, wherein the functional component is constituted by a material of higher rigidity than that of the tubular apatite monocrystal.

4. The composite material according to claim 1, wherein the functional component is constituted by a photocatalytic substance.

5. The composite material according to claim 1, wherein the functional component is constituted by an enzyme.

6. The composite material according to claim 1, wherein an outer form of the tubular apatite monocrystal is a hexagonal prism, and an aperture of a hole formed on a top surface or bottom surface of the hexagonal prism is hexagonal in shape.

7. The composite material accordingly to claim 1, wherein the tubular apatite monocrystal has an inner diameter of 3 nm to 800 μ

m.

8. The composite material according to claim 1, wherein the tubular apatite monocrystal has an outer diameter of 1 μ

m to 1 mm.

9. The composite material according to claim 1, wherein the tubular apatite monocrystal measures 2 μ

m to 4 mm lengthwise.