Chapter 6 - Polyethylene and polypropylene matrix composites for biomedical applications

Abstract

Polyolefins are a major polymer family, which have vast achievements due to a wide variety of properties, being reasonably low cost, their recyclability, easy processability, and numerous application prospects. Among polyolefins, polyethylene and polypropylene (PP) are the most produced and consumed. In polyethylene, various forms are available of differing chain structures, crystallinity, and densities, like high-density polyethylene (HDPE), low-density polyethylene, linear low-density polyethylene, and ultrahigh molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE). In polypropylene, methyl groups are incorporated in spatially different ways, resulting in isotactic, syndiotactic, and atactic forms. HDPE and UHMWPE have found extensive applications in the biomedical field. UHMWPE is used in total hip or knee replacements because of its high impact resistance, ductility, and stability in contact with physiological fluids. PP resins have high transparency and radiation resistance and are therefore used in syringes, inhaling systems, containers, caps, and closures, etc. With the help of composite technology, significant enhancements in polyethylene and polypropylene materials are possible. It is obvious that polyethylene and polypropylene matrix composites are useful in the pharmaceutical, medical device, laboratory, syringe, and diagnostics fields due to its outstanding properties, such as low density, low toxicity, easy sterilization, high transparency, increased mechanical strength, improved impact properties, good chemical resistance, low moisture absorption, high heat resistance, decreased gas permeability, excellent electrical insulation, and low flammability. The interest in polyethylene and polypropylene-based composites is growing as well as it taking center stage in biomedical markets and will continue to develop due to the necessity of these materials for various biomedical applications. This chapter provides an overview of polyolefin and its composites in the biomedical sector and the specific advantages of polyethylene and polypropylene composites for biomedical applications are emphasized.