Skip to main content

Effect of particle morphology and polyethylene molecular weight on the fracture toughness of hydroxyapatite reinforced polyethylene composite

Journal of Materials Science: Materials in Medicine volume 15, pages 1147–1152 (2004)Cite this article

Abstract

Fracture toughness testing has been performed on hydroxyapatite–polyethylene composites. Sintered and unsintered grades of hydroxyapatite and two grades of high-density polyethylene were used to make 40 vol % hydroxyapatite composites. Compact tension testing was performed at both room temperature and at 37 °C and at three strain rates. The effect of increasing the loading rate from 2 to 200 μm s−1 was to increase the fracture toughness. Increasing the testing temperature or decreasing the surface area of the reinforcing particles also increased the fracture toughness. However, using a lower molecular weight, injection moulding, grade of polyethylene reduced the fracture toughness. Thus for higher fracture toughness, a low surface area sintered hydroxyapatite in a high-molecular weight polyethylene is required.

This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution.

Access options

Buy single article

Instant access to the full article PDF.

43,34 €

Price includes VAT (Finland)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

References

  1. R. N. D0WNES, S. VARDY, K. E. TANNER and W BONFIELD, in Bioceramics 4-Proceedings of the 4th International Symposium on Ceramics in Medicine, edited by W. Bonfield, G. W Hastings and K. E. Tanner (Butterworth-Heinnemann-Ltd, 1991) p. 239.

  2. J. L. KATZ in "Advances in Bioengineering". edited by R. E. Mates and C. R. Smith (American Society of Mechanical Engineers, New York, 1976).

    Google Scholar 

  3. W. BONFIELD and K. E. TANNER Mat. World 5 (1997) 18.

    Google Scholar 

  4. W. BONFIELD, M. WANG and K. E. TANNER, ActaMater. 46 (1998) 2509.

    Google Scholar 

  5. J. DORNHOFFER, The Laryngoscope 108 (1998) 531.

    Google Scholar 

  6. J. ABRAM, J. BOWMAN, J. C. BEHIRI and W. BONFIELD, Plast. Rubber Process. Appl. 4 (1984) 261.

    Google Scholar 

  7. M. WANG, R. JOSEPH and W. BONFIELD, in Proceedings of the 10th International Symposium on Ceramics in Medicine, Paris, France, 1997, p. 15.

  8. P. J. HOGG, J. C. BRHIRI, A. BRANDWOOD, I. A. BOWMAN and W. BONFIELD, in Proceedings of the Conference on Composites in Biomedical Engineering, Plastic and Rubber Institute, London, 1985, p. 29.

    Google Scholar 

  9. Y. ZHANG and K. E. TANNER, J. Mater. Sci. Mazer. Med. 14 (2003) 63.

    Google Scholar 

  10. J. SUWANPRATEEB, K. E. TANNER, S. TURNER and W. BONFIELD ibid. 8 (1997) 469.

    Google Scholar 

  11. P. T. TON THAT, K. E. TANNER and W. BONFIELD, J. Biomed. Mat. Res. 51 (2000) 453.

    Google Scholar 

  12. P. T. TON THAT, K. E. TANNER and W. BONFIELD, ibid. 51 (2000) 461

    Google Scholar 

  13. J. HUANG, L. DI SILVIO, M. WANG, K. E. TANNER and W. BONFIELD, J. Mater Sci.: Mater. Med. 8 (1997) 775.

    Google Scholar 

  14. W. BONFIELD, C. DOYLE and K. E. TANNER, in Biological and Biomechanical Pcrfomance of Biomaterials", editcd by P. Cristel, A. Memier and A. J. C. Lee (Elsevier Science Publishers, 1986) p. 153.

  15. C. DOYLE, Z. B. LUKLINSKA, K. E. TANNER and W. BONFIELD in ''Clinical Implant Materials", edited by G. Heimke, U. Soltèsz and A. J. C. Lee (Elsevier, 1990) p. 334.

  16. M. WANG, D. PORTERand W. BONFIELD, Br. Cer. Trans. 93 (1994) 91.

    Google Scholar 

  17. W. BONFIELD, M. WANG and K. E. TANNER, Acta Mater. 46 (1998) 2509.

    Google Scholar 

  18. T. M. WRIGHT and W. C. HAYES J. Biomech. 10 (1977) 419

    Google Scholar 

  19. W. BONFIELD, Ann. NY. Acad Sci. 523 (1988) 173

    Google Scholar 

  20. J. C. BEHIRI and W. BONFIELD, J. Biomech. 17 (1984) 2 5.

    Google Scholar 

  21. D. VASHISHTH, K. E. TANNER and W. BONFIELD, ibid. 33 (2000) 1169.

    Google Scholar 

  22. R. JOSEPH, K. E. TANNER and W. BONFIELD, in Proceedings of the International conference of Biomedical Engineering, Bangalor, December 2001, edited by A. G. Ramakishnam (Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore, India)

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Affiliations

  1. Department of Materials and IRC in Biomedical Materials, Queen Mary, University of London, Mile End Road, London E1 4NS, UK

    J. O. Eniwumide, R. Joseph & K. E. Tanner

Authors
  1. J. O. Eniwumide
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. R. Joseph
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. K. E. Tanner
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Rights and permissions

Reprints and Permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Eniwumide, J.O., Joseph, R. & Tanner, K.E. Effect of particle morphology and polyethylene molecular weight on the fracture toughness of hydroxyapatite reinforced polyethylene composite. Journal of Materials Science: Materials in Medicine 15, 1147–1152 (2004). https://doi.org/10.1023/B:JMSM.0000046398.17027.97

Download citation

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1023/B:JMSM.0000046398.17027.97

Keywords

  • Molecular Weight
  • Polyethylene
  • Fracture Toughness
  • Lower Molecular Weight
  • Hydroxyapatite