Whisker-Reinforced Bioactive Composites Containing Calcium Phosphate Cement Fillers: Effects of Filler Ratio and Surface Treatments on Mechanical Properties

Published

November 1, 2001

Author(s)

Hockin D. Xu, Janet Quinn

Abstract

Calcium phosphate cement (CPC) sets to form microporous solid hydroxyapatite with excellent osteoconductivity, but its brittleness and low strength prohibit use in stress-bearing locations. The aim of this study was to incorporate pre-hardened CPC particles and ceramic whiskers in a resin matrix to improve the strength and fracture resistance, and to investigate the effects of key microstructural variables on composite mechanical properties. Two types of whiskers were used: silicon nitride, and silicon carbide. The whiskers were surface-treated by fusing with silica and by silanization. The CPC particle fillers were either silanized or not silanized. Seven mass ratios of whisker-silica/CPC were mixed: 0:1 (no whisker-silica), 1:5, 1:2, 1:1, 2:1, 5:1, and 1:0 (no CPC). Each powder was blended with a Bisphenol-a-glycidyl methacrylate-based resin to harden in 2 x 2 x 25 mm molds by two-part chemical curing. The specimens were tested in three-point flexure to measure strength, work-of-fracture (toughness) and elastic modulus. Two-way analysis of variance was used to analyze the data, and scanning electron microscopy was used to examine specimen fracture surfaces. The whisker-silica/CPC ratio had significant effects on composite properties (p

Citation

Journal of Biomedical Materials Research

Volume

57

Issue

No. 2

Pub Type

Journals

Keywords

bioactive composite, calcium phosphate cement, hydroxyapatite, modulus, reinforcement, strength, whiskers

Citation

Xu, H. and Quinn, J. (2001), Whisker-Reinforced Bioactive Composites Containing Calcium Phosphate Cement Fillers: Effects of Filler Ratio and Surface Treatments on Mechanical Properties, Journal of Biomedical Materials Research (Accessed May 10, 2024)