Polymer-hydroxyapatite composites for biomedical applications

• Main Author: Mohamad Saifudin Abu Bakar.
• Other Authors: Cheang, Philip Hong Ning
• Format: Theses and Dissertations
• Language: English
• Published: 2008
• Subjects: DRNTU::Engineering::Materials::Composite materials; DRNTU::Engineering::Materials::Biomaterials
• Online Access: http://hdl.handle.net/10356/13537
• Institution: Nanyang Technological University

This investigation reports the development of a bioactive composite system based on hydroxyapatite and polyetheretherketone. A series of processes comprising melt compounding, granulating and injection molding were employed successfully to fabricate composites with high loading of hydroxyapatite of up to 40 volume percent. The processing technique employed was capable of producing composites with isotropic properties, where good dispersion and distribution of the particulate hydroxyapatite in the polymer matrix was achieved. In addition, minimal loss of particulate was observed during these processing stages. The composites produced were characterized in terms of rheological, thermal and viscoelastic behaviour. The emphasis of this work is, however, focused on the mechanical properties. Microstructural analysis was also conducted to provide better understanding on the process-structure-property relationship of the composite.