Thermophysical and mechanical properties of β-tricalcium phosphate reinforced polyhydroxybutyrate and polyhydroxybutyrate-co-hydroxyvalerate composites

Abstract

Two series of bioactive and biodegradable composite materials consisting of participate β-tricalcium phosphate (β-TCP) and polyhydroxybutyrate (PHB) and its copolymer polyhydroxybutyrate-co-hydroxyvalerate (PHBV) were produced and investigated for bone tissue repair. A manufacturing route employing injection moulding was established for producing the biomedical composites. In the process, plates of composites containing 10%, 20%, 30% or 40% by volume of micro-sized TCP particles were successfully injection moulded for both TCP/PHB and TCP/PHBV composites. Thermal properties of as-produced TCP/PHB and TCP/PHBV composites were systematically evaluated using differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). The mechanical performance of TCP/PHB and TCP/PHBV composites was assessed using dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA).