Preparation and Characterization of PolyLactide-Hydroxyapatite Biocomposites

In the present study, the preparation and characterization of polylactide-Hydroxyapatite(HA) composite films for biomedical applications have been studied. The effects of number of parameters such as polymer type, HA loading, surface modification and its concentration on the mechanical and microstructural properties of the composites were investigated. Poly-L-Lactide and 96/4 Poly(L-Lactide co D-Lactide) copolymer-HA composites containing 10-40 wt HA particles have been prepared by solvent casting technique. The HA powder was synthesized by precipitation technique. Interfacial interactions between HA and polylactide polymer were modified to improve filler compatibility and mechanical properties of the composites by surface treatment of the HA with two different silane coupling agents; 3-aminopropyltriethoxysilane (AMPTES) and 3-mercaptopropyltrimethoxysilane (MPTMS) at three different concentrations(0.5-2 wt%). Silane treatment indicated improvements in the mechanical properties of the composites compared to the untreated HA loaded polylactide composites. Tensile test results showed that the maximum improvement in the mechanical properties of the composites was obtained for PLA composites containing 1 wt% aminofunctional silane treated HA and 0.5-wt % mercaptopropyltrimethoxy silane treated HA for PDLA composites. Scanning electron microscopy studies also revealed better dispersion of silane treated HA particles in the polymer matrix.