Production of bone implant filaments from blue crab shells (Portunus pelagicus) in various synthesis conditions and blending ratios of hydroxyapatite (HAp)-polycaprolactone (PCL)

Abstract

The effect of calcination temperatures and KH2PO4 concentrations on filament properties using the precipitation method was investigated. Moreover, the effect of optimum hydroxyapatite-polycaprolactone ratios was also elucidated. In this study, blue crab shells (Portunus pelagicus) waste was used to synthesis hydroxyapatite. The modification of composite production was done by adding polymer as filler to obtain stronger composites with suitable mechanical properties for a stronger bone implant. The filament production consists of several steps, i.e., raw material pretreatment, synthesis of hydroxyapatite using a precursor of KH2PO4 with precipitation method, and synthesis of hydroxyapatite-polycaprolactone composites, and hydroxyapatite-polycaprolactone filament formation process using an extruder. It was found that the hydroxyapatite has been successfully synthesized from raw material of blue crab (Portunus Pelagicus) shells by calcination temperatures of 950°C and 1000°C. The highest calcium concentration in the raw material calcined from rajungan shells obtained from the XRF analysis was 94.96% at a temperature of 950°C. The FTIR analysis results showed a PO4 3- group indicating hydroxyapatite content in the crab shells.