Effect of particle morphology and polyethylene molecular weight on the fracture toughness of hydroxyapatite reinforced polyethylene composite

Eniwumide, J.O., Joseph, R. and Tanner, K.E. (2004) Effect of particle morphology and polyethylene molecular weight on the fracture toughness of hydroxyapatite reinforced polyethylene composite. Journal of Materials Science: Materials in Medicine, 15(10), pp. 1147-1152. (doi: 10.1023/B:JMSM.0000046398.17027.97)

Abstract

Fracture toughness testing has been performed on hydroxyapatite–polyethylene composites. Sintered and unsintered grades of hydroxyapatite and two grades of high-density polyethylene were used to make 40 vol % hydroxyapatite composites. Compact tension testing was performed at both room temperature and at 37 °C and at three strain rates. The effect of increasing the loading rate from 2 to 200 μmgrm s–1 was to increase the fracture toughness. Increasing the testing temperature or decreasing the surface area of the reinforcing particles also increased the fracture toughness. However, using a lower molecular weight, injection moulding, grade of polyethylene reduced the fracture toughness. Thus for higher fracture toughness, a low surface area sintered hydroxyapatite in a high-molecular weight polyethylene is required.

• Item Type: Articles
• Status: Published
• Refereed: Yes
• Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID: Tanner, Professor Kathleen
• Authors: Eniwumide, J.O., Joseph, R., and Tanner, K.E.
• Subjects: T Technology > TJ Mechanical engineering and machinery
• College/School: College of Science and Engineering > School of Engineering > Biomedical Engineering
• Journal Name: Journal of Materials Science: Materials in Medicine
• ISSN: 0957-4530