Structure and characteristics of the hot pressed hydroxyapatite/poly-L-lactide composite

Abstract

Hydroxyapatite/poly-L-lactide (HAp/PLL) composite biomaterial can be obtained by different processing methods. Three-dimensional blocks of HAp/PLLA composite biomaterial with mechanical characteristics close to the natural bone tissue can be obtained by hot pressing procedure. Effects of synthesis and compacting on the structure and characteristics of the HAp/PLLA composite biomaterial were studied in this work. Using wade angle X-ray structural analyses (WAXS), differentially scanning calorimetry (DSC), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) and infrared (IR) spectroscopy, the changes occurring in the material during synthesis and hot pressing were monitored. Surface microstructure was analyzed by scanning electronic microscopy (SEM) coupled with electron-dispersion analysis (EDX). The results obtained indicate a possible decrease in the degree of crystallinity with hot pressing time increase. A block of HAp/PLLA composite biomaterial with 1.6 times lower crystallinity of the polymer phase was obtained by hot pressing in a given time interval with a maximum of 60 minutes. Results of TG analysis show that PLLA stability decreases with increasing hot pressing time, and vice versa. IR study proved that neither destructive changes in constituents nor formation of new phases occurred during hot pressing.