Influence of Hydroxyapatite Nano-particles on the Mechanical and Tribological Properties of Orthopedic Cement-Based Nano-composites Measured by Nano-indentation and Nano-scratch Experiments

Abstract

The aim of this study was to examine the mechanical and tribological properties of a commercially available bone cement by incorporating nano-sized hydroxyapatite using nano-indentation and nano-scratch experiments. In order to achieve this goal, the nano-composite cement samples with different amounts of commercial nano-hydroxyapatite (HAc), as a bone compatible nano-filler, were prepared via vacuum mixing method. The results indicated that nano-indentation and nano-scratch experiments are acceptable methods for measuring the mechanical and tribological properties of orthopedic cement-based nano-composites. Moreover, it was found that the nano-composite of 10 wt.% HAc exhibits the optimum performance compared to the other nano-composite samples in terms of mechanical and tribological properties. These findings can play an important role in achieving the goal of clinical and biomechanical function optimization of bone cement, especially in the field of orthopedic surgery.