Manufacture and bioactivity of tough hydroxyapatite/nylon hybrid composites

Abstract

The development of a new type of a hybrid HAP/nylon interpenetrating network composite is described. The key step in the manufacturing process of the hybrid material is the infiltration of melted ε-caprolactam into porous HAP and subsequent in situ polymerization. The porous HAP bodies were prepared from HAP powders of several morphologies via sintering processes at various temperatures. The effect of the respective pore characteristics, such as the volume fraction of open porosity and pore size distribution, on the microstructure of HAP/nylon hybrid composites is discussed. The mechanical behavior and some properties of the composites, i.e. fracture energy and in vitro bioactivity in simulated body fluid (SBF) are evaluated.

Keywords:

• POROUS HYDROXYAPATITE
• SINTERING
• NYLON
• INFILTRATION
• PORE CHARACTERISTICS