title: Preparation and mechanical properties of polylactic acid composites containing hydroxyapatite fibers.
abstract: Ceramic-polymer composite biomaterials were prepared by hot-pressing a mixture consisting of poly-L-lactic acid (PLA) and hydroxyapatite fibers (HAF) with dimensions of 40-150 microm length and 2-10 microm diameter, which were converted from beta-Ca(PO3)2 fibers. After PLA dissolved with methylene chloride was mixed with the fibers, the mixture was dried completely and subsequently hot-pressed uniaxially under a pressure of 40 MPa at 180 degrees C, resulting in the fabrication of the PLA/HAF composite. The modulus of elasticity was improved effectively even by introducing a small amount of HAF; almost no degradation in the bending strength was observed and the modulus of elasticity showed high values of 5-10 GPa when the fibers of 20-60 wt% were introduced. With increasing HAF content, the maximum strain decreases and the specimen is apt to show a brittle fracture; this result implies that HAF in the composites can share the applied load efficiently due to the formation of a bond between HAF and PLA.
authors.affiliation: Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Nagoya Institute of Technology, Japan. kasugato@mse.nitech.ac.jp
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Kasuga
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Ota
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Nogami
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Abe
mesh_terms: D001672:Biocompatible Materials; D002516:Ceramics; D017886:Durapatite; D004548:Elasticity; D007202:Indicators and Reagents; D019344:Lactic Acid; D008855:Microscopy, Electron, Scanning; D011091:Polyesters; D011108:Polymers; D013314:Stress, Mechanical; D013499:Surface Properties
chemical_list: D001672:Biocompatible Materials; D007202:Indicators and Reagents; D011091:Polyesters; D011108:Polymers; D019344:Lactic Acid; C033616:poly(lactide); D017886:Durapatite