Studies on crosslinked hydroxyapatite-polyethylene composite as a bone-analogue material

The paper examines the use of different types of polymeric matrix composites in hard-tissue replacement applications. The composite samples were prepared with hydroxyapatite (HA) powder and polyethylenes of different densities. The raw material was first compounded in the extruder and the resulting composite pre-forms were compression molded into desired plates and irradiated with different doses. Modulus of elasticity in tension, tensile strength, tensile fracture strain, elongation at break and gel content were obtained for all composites. Ceramic filler distribution was investigated under scanning electron microscopy (SEM). With HA incorporated in the samples an increase in the values of Young's Modulus, (stiffness) was observed, while elongation at break decreased with the amount of filler, showing increase of brittleness. Tensile strengths at yield and at break decreased with the filler content for LD and MDPE and stayed constant for HDPE. (c) 2007 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.