Application of vibrational spectroscopy in the in vitro studies of carbon fiber-polylactic acid composite degradation.

Vibrational spectroscopy was used for assessment of new material for stomat ology, for guided tissue regeneration (GTR) technique. Implants applied in the healing of periodontal defects using GTR technique have to meet stringe nt requirements concerning their chemical as well physical properties. At p resent the implants prepared from two layers membranes differing in porosit y in their outer and inner layers are studied clinically. Composite plates prepared by us consist of three layers: polylactic acid film, carbon fibres coated with polylactic acid and carbon fabric. Vibrational spectroscopic s tudies of the material; polylactic acid- carbon fiber have made it possible to analyse chemical reactions occurring between the polymer and carbon sur face. Analysis of the IR spectra of samples treated in Ringer solution allo wed to describe the phenomena resulting from the composite degradation. It was shown that material biostability is related to the presence of carbon f ibers. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.