Journal
COMPOSITES SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
Volume 151, Issue -, Pages 234-242Publisher
ELSEVIER SCI LTD
DOI: 10.1016/j.compscitech.2017.08.026
Keywords
Polymer-matrix composites (PMCs); Bone substitute; Mechanical properties; Orientation; Injection molding
Categories
Funding
- National Natural Science Fundation of China [51533004, 51773136, 51403139]
- Sichuan University [2016SCU04A17]
- State Key Laboratory of Polymer Materials Engineering [sklpme2016-3-08]
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Inspired by the hierarchically ordered structure of natural bones with the integration of outstanding strength and toughness, we made an endeavor to engineer ultra high molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE)/hydroxyapatite (HA) biocomposites with bone-like structure. The gradiently oriented architecture is constructed via ingenious control over the flow field during the injection molding. In the outer layer, intense shear induces a plenty of highly oriented UHMWPE lamellae, which mimic the aligned collagen fibers in the natural bone. In the inner layer, chain relaxation gives rise to relatively disordered lamellae, contributing to a tough core that shares the similarity with the soft internal layer of natural bones. Such a unique spatial architecture remarkably strengthens the mechanical performance of structured UHMWPE/HA biocomposites. Strikingly, tensile strength and impact toughness are significantly increased by 170% and 85%, climbing up to 63.4 MPa and 103.9 kJ/m(2), respectively, which is hardly achieved in the previous studies. Meanwhile, structured UHMWPE/HA exhibits good biocompatibility and bioactivity. Our work offers an efficient, time-saving and scalable approach to fabricate high performance UHMWPE/HA biocomposites, where the simultaneous enhancement of strength and toughness makes the structured UHMWPE/HA a promising candidate of replacements for cortical bones. (C) 2017 Published by Elsevier Ltd.
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