Abstract
Bioresorbable phosphate glass fibre reinforced polyester composites have been investigated as replacement for some traditional metallic orthopaedic implants, such as bone fracture fixation plates. However, composites tested revealed loss of the interfacial integrity after immersion within aqueous media which resulted in rapid loss of mechanical properties. Physical modification of fibres to change fibre surface morphology has been shown to be an effective method to improve fibre and matrix adhesion in composites. In this study, biodegradable magnesium which would gradually degrade to Mg2+ in the human body was deposited via magnetron sputtering onto bioresorbable phosphate glass fibres to obtain roughened fibre surfaces. Fibre surface morphology after coating was observed using scanning electron microscope (SEM). The roughness profile and crystalline texture of the coatings were determined via atomic force microscope (AFM) and X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis, respectively. The roughness of the coatings was seen to increase from 40 ± 1 nm to 80 ± 1 nm. The mechanical properties (tensile strength and modulus) of fibre with coatings decreased with increased magnesium coating thickness.
Highlights
Bioresorbable polymers have shown great potential in orthopaedic applications due to their advantages over traditional metals and alloys such as allowing gradual transfer of loads to the healing bone, in order to reduce or eliminate stress shielding effects and avoiding secondary surgery for removal [1]
Bioresorbable phosphate glass fibre (PGF) were coated with degradable magnesium via magnetron sputtering to try and create a rougher fibre surface in order to initiate a mechanical interlock between the fibre and matrix, improving the composite interfacial properties
Magnesium thin films were deposited onto glass slides and bioresorbable phosphate glass fibres using magnetron sputtering
Summary
Bioresorbable polymers have shown great potential in orthopaedic applications due to their advantages over traditional metals and alloys such as allowing gradual transfer of loads to the healing bone, in order to reduce or eliminate stress shielding effects and avoiding secondary surgery for removal [1]. The mechanical properties of these resorbable polymers are often insufficient especially for load bearing bone repair applications As such reinforcing resorbable polymers is an attractive approach to overcome these limitations, which can be obtained via fabrication of fibre reinforced composites. Studies in vitro have shown an initial rapid loss of composite mechanical properties in the very early stages of immersion within aqueous media. This phenomenon is believed to be due to plasticisation of the matrix and degradation of the interface between the fibres and matrix when exposed to an aqueous media [2,3,4,5]
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