title: The effect of bimodal distribution on the mechanical properties of hydroxyapatite particle filled poly(L-lactide) composites.
abstract: The effects of a bimodal distribution of micro-HA and nano-HA particles on the mechanical properties such as bending strength, modulus and mode I fracture energy of HA/PLLA composites were investigated. The bending properties were effectively improved by a bimodal distribution compared to a monomodal distribution. It is considered that in the bimodal HA/PLLA, the PLLA molecular chains are constrained by the existence of well distributed nano-particles, resulting in the reduction of the deformation of molecular chains. The mode I fracture energy was also effectively improved by a bimodal distribution with additional energy dissipation mechanisms, that is, dense ductile deformation of the PLLA matrix and debonding of the particle/matrix interfaces in the crack-tip region.
authors.affiliation: Interdisciplinary Graduate School of Engineering Sciences, Kyushu University, 6-1 Kasuga-koen, Kasuga, Fukuoka 816-8580, Japan.
authors.forename: Tetsuo
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Takayama
authors.forename: Mitsugu
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Todo
authors.forename: Atsushi
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Takano
mesh_terms: D017886:Durapatite / Q000737:chemistry*; D055119:Elastic Modulus; D055595:Mechanical Phenomena; D008855:Microscopy, Electron, Scanning; D053761:Nanocomposites / Q000737:chemistry*; D011091:Polyesters / Q000737:chemistry*
chemical_list: D011091:Polyesters; C033616:poly(lactide); D017886:Durapatite