Fabrication of novel calcium phosphate/poly(lactic acid) fiber composites.
Composites using high-modulus polylactic acid (PLA) fibers coated with calcium phosphate (CaP) were prepared using a cyclic precipitation technique. Scanning electron microscopy revealed that small nuclei of CaP formed after the first soaking cycle, while large quantities of CaP particles were observed after the sixth cycle. The amount of CaP deposited on the PLA yarn increased with deposition time in Ca(2+) and PO(4) (3-) solutions and number of cycles, and decreased with stirring rate during washing cycles. It was observed that around 35 wt % of CaP was deposited on the yarn surface after six cycles of cyclic-soaking. Based on the results, a heterogeneous nucleation and growth mechanism was proposed for the CaP deposition on the surface of hydrolyzed polyester. Composites comprising the coated fibers in a poly(caprolactone) matrix exhibited flexural moduli within the range of that of the cortical bone.
Kothapalli
Chandrasekhar R
CR
Department of Chemical, Materials, and Biomolecular Engineering, University of Connecticut, Storrs, Connecticut 06269, USA.
Shaw
Montgomery T
MT
Olson
James R
JR
Wei
Mei
M
D000465:Algorithms; D002130:Calcium Phosphates / Q000737:chemistry*; D020099:Coated Materials, Biocompatible; D020770:Compomers / Q000737:chemistry*; D019344:Lactic Acid / Q000737:chemistry*; D008855:Microscopy, Electron, Scanning; D008956:Models, Chemical; D011091:Polyesters / Q000737:chemistry; D011108:Polymers / Q000737:chemistry*; D012503:Saponins / Q000737:chemistry; D013314:Stress, Mechanical
D002130:Calcium Phosphates; D020099:Coated Materials, Biocompatible; D020770:Compomers; D011091:Polyesters; D011108:Polymers; D012503:Saponins; C016240:polycaprolactone; D019344:Lactic Acid; C033616:poly(lactide)