Nc. Bleach et al., Effect of filler type on the mechanical properties of self-reinforced polylactide-calcium phosphate composites, J MAT S-M M, 12(10-12), 2001, pp. 911-915
Citations number
16
Categorie Soggetti
Multidisciplinary
Journal title
JOURNAL OF MATERIALS SCIENCE-MATERIALS IN MEDICINE
Bioabsorbable polymers are of interest as internal fracture fixation device
s. Self-reinforcement has been developed to improve the mechanical properti
es of the material and the addition of calcium phosphate fillers improves t
he bioactivity. Composite plates, produced by compression molding preimpreg
nated sheets of polylactide fibers coated in a polylactide matrix have been
degraded in simulated body fluid for up to 12 weeks. Some samples also con
tained hydroxyapatite or tricalcium phosphate filler particles. Degradation
was measured by monitoring the water uptake and mass decrease of the sampl
es, as well as carrying out four point bend tests to assess the mechanical
properties of the material. By 12 weeks, it was found that the unfilled sam
ples absorbed more water and showed greater mass loss than the samples cont
aining calcium phosphate fillers. Also, the flexural modulus and yield stre
ss decreased significantly at week 12 for the unfilled samples. Adding hydr
oxyapatite (HA) or tricalcium phosphate (TCP) to the composite increased th
e flexural modulus and yield strength to values within the range of those r
eported for cortical bone and these values were maintained over the 12-week
period. (C) 2001 Kluwer Academic Publishers.