Study of the Degradation Rate of Polymeric Biodegradable Composites PLA (Powder) – PCL Produced by Solvent Casting in 0.3% NaCl Medium

Abstract

The treatment of long-standing fractures is influenced by trauma, resorption, and bone pathology. Additional issues arise with the use of non-biodegradable metal implants, requiring additional procedures for removal, increasing the risk of infection, complications, and prolonging recovery time. The solution being studied is the use of biodegradable materials such as Polylactic Acid (PLA) - Polycaprolactone (PCL) polymers for bone repair and fixation, which can reduce the risk of complications and infection while accelerating healing. This research aims to analyze the effect of PLA powder percentage on the degradation rate of PCL mixtures using the solvent casting method. The specimen preparation process in this study utilizes the solvent casting method by mixing PLA and PCL using acetone as a solvent. The PLAPCL compositions used are 10 PLA: 90 PCL, 30 PLA: 70 PCL, and 50 PLA: 50 PCL. The specimens are then characterized through density and degradation testing by immersing them in a 0.9% NaCl infusion solution. The density testing results indicate that the 50 PLA: 50 PCL composition has the highest density, at 0.97 g/cm³. In degradation testing, the 10 PLA: 90 PCL composition exhibits the highest degradation rate, with a weight loss percentage of 22.01% in the fourth week and a degradation rate of 0.0128 mmpy in the first week.