Effect of filler surface morphology on the impact behaviour of hydroxyapatite reinforced high density polyethylene composites

Zhang, Y. and Tanner, K.E. (2008) Effect of filler surface morphology on the impact behaviour of hydroxyapatite reinforced high density polyethylene composites. Journal of Materials Science: Materials in Medicine, 19(2), pp. 761-766. (doi: 10.1007/s10856-007-3119-1)

Abstract

Instrumented falling weight impact tests have been carried out to characterize the impact behaviour of hydroxyapatite reinforced high-density polyethylene composite (HA-HDPE) in order to use this biomaterial in skull implants. The effects of HA filler surface morphology and volume fraction on the fracture toughness were studied, and fracture mechanism investigated. Impact resistance was found to be markedly improved by using a sintered grade HA filler with smooth particle surface instead of spray dried grade HA with rough surface. SEM examination of impacted fracture surfaces revealed that the improvement of impact resistance was due to the stronger interfacial bonding between smooth HA particles and HDPE polymer matrix compared with that between rough HA and HDPE, which results in more energy absorption during impact and hence better fracture resistance

• Item Type: Articles
• Keywords: impact, bioactive composite, hydroxyapatite
• Status: Published
• Refereed: Yes
• Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID: Tanner, Professor Kathleen and Zhang, Dr Yuan
• Authors: Zhang, Y., and Tanner, K.E.
• Subjects: T Technology > T Technology (General); R Medicine > R Medicine (General)
• College/School: College of Science and Engineering > School of Engineering > Biomedical Engineering; College of Science and Engineering > School of Engineering > Electronics and Nanoscale Engineering
• Research Group: Materials
• Journal Name: Journal of Materials Science: Materials in Medicine
• ISSN: 1573-4838