Physico‐chemical, thermal, and mechanical properties of PLA‐nHA nanocomposites: Effect of glass fiber reinforcement

Abstract

AbstractIn this study, tri‐layered composites were prepared by reinforcing poly‐lactic acid (PLA) nano‐hydroxyapatite (n‐HA) (1 and 5 wt%) and 20 mol% continuous phosphate glass fibers (PGF). Initially, the effect of addition of 1 and 5% n‐HA on the structural, thermal, mechanical, and thermo‐mechanical properties of 100% PLA was investigated. With 5 wt% n‐HA addition the tensile modulus (TM), flexural modulus (FM), tensile strength (TS), and flexural strength (FS) of 100% PLA was improve by 14.9, 47.4, 6, and 32.9%, respectively. Whereas, the un‐notched impact strength of the nanocomposites suffer 2% deterioration. However, T g decreased by 0.3°C and T c increased by 10°C as 5 wt% n‐HA was added to 100% PLA. Afterwards, the 5% n‐HA/PLA composite were reinforced with 20 mol% continuous PGF and the TM, FM, TS, and FS of the tri‐layered composites were 162.6, 412.5, 28.4, and 157.4% higher as compared to 100%PLA. Furthermore, the storage modulus of the 1% n‐HA‐filled composites was 500 MPa lower than 100%PLA, while 5 wt% n‐HA‐filled composites showed similar storage modulus as 100% PLA. 5 wt% n‐HA‐filled composite showed the highest peak of loss modulus which may be attribute to the chain segment of PLA matrix after the incorporation of HA. Thus, n‐HA and PGF reinforcement resulted in improved mechanical properties of the composites and have great potential as biodegradable bone fixation device with enhanced load‐bearing ability.