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A dynamic mechanical thermal analysis study of the viscoelastic properties and glass transition temperature behaviour of bioresorbable polymer matrix nanocomposites

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Abstract

The application of bioresorbable polymer nanocomposites in orthopaedics offer the potential to address several of the limitations associated with the use of metallic implants. Their enhanced biological performance has been demonstrated recently, but until now relatively little work has been reported on their mechanical properties. To this end, the viscoelastic properties and Tg of bioresorbable polylactide-co-glycolide/α-tricalcium phosphate nanocomposites were investigated by dynamic mechanical thermal analysis. At room temperature of approximately 20°C, the storage moduli of the nanocomposites were generally higher than the storage modulus of the unfilled polymer due to the stiffening effect of the nano-particles. However at physiological temperature of approximately 37°C, the storage moduli of the nanocomposites decreased from 6.2 to 15.4% v/v nano-particle loadings. Similarly the Tg of the nanocomposites also decreased from 6.2 to 15.4% v/v nano-particle loadings. These effects were thought to be due to weak interfacial bonding between the nano-particles and polymer matrix. The storage moduli at 37°C and Tg increased from the minimum value when the particle loading was raised to 25.7 and 34.2% v/v loadings. SEM and particle size distribution histograms showed that at these loadings, there was a broad particle size distribution consisting of nano-particles and micro-particles and that some particle agglomeration was present. The consequent reduction in the interfacial area and the number of weak interfaces presumably accounts for the rise in the storage modulus at 37°C and the Tg.

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Acknowledgements

Samuel I. J. Wilberforce is grateful to his partner, Ms. Charlotte Fay von Karsa, for funding his PhD studies. The authors thank DSM Xplore for the use of their mini injection moulding machine. The authors also thank Prof. William Clegg of Cambridge University’s Materials Science and Metallurgy department for the use of his attritor milling machine. Samuel I. J. Wilberforce is grateful for the support of Dr. Jenny Shepherd, Mr. David Shepherd, Mr. Rob Cornell and Mr. Simon Griggs also of Cambridge University’s Materials Science and Metallurgy department during experiments. The authors are also grateful for the support of Mr. Jon Rickard of the Cavendish Laboratory, Department of Physics, University of Cambridge for his support during the SEM experiments.

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  1. Department of Materials Science and Metallurgy, Cambridge Centre for Medical Materials, University of Cambridge, New Museums Site, Pembroke Street, Cambridge, CB2 3QZ, UK

    Samuel I. J. Wilberforce, Serena M. Best & Ruth E. Cameron

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  1. Samuel I. J. Wilberforce
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  2. Serena M. Best
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  3. Ruth E. Cameron
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Correspondence to Samuel I. J. Wilberforce.

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Wilberforce, S.I.J., Best, S.M. & Cameron, R.E. A dynamic mechanical thermal analysis study of the viscoelastic properties and glass transition temperature behaviour of bioresorbable polymer matrix nanocomposites. J Mater Sci: Mater Med 21, 3085–3093 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10856-010-4170-x

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10856-010-4170-x

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