Enhancement of thermal, mechanical and physical properties of polyamide 12 composites via hybridization of ceramics for bone replacement

Abstract

This study reports the influence of ZrO₂/β-TCP hybridization on the thermal, mechanical, and physical properties of polyamide 12 composites to be suited for bone replacement. Amount of 15 wt% of nano-ZrO₂ along with 5,10,15,20 and 25 wt% of micro-β-TCP was compounded with polyamide 12 via a twin-screw extruder. The hybrid ZrO2/β-TCP filled polyamide 12 exhibited higher thermal, mechanical and physical properties in comparison to unfilled polyamide 12 at certain filler loading; which is attributed to the homogenous dispersion of ZrO₂/β-TCP fillers particle in polyamide 12 matrix. The hybrid ZrO₂/β-TCP filled PA 12 demonstrated an increment of tensile strength by up to 1%, tensile modulus of 38%, flexural strength of 15%, flexural modulus of 45%, and surface roughness value of 93%, as compared to unfilled PA 12. With enhanced thermal, mechanical and physical properties, the newly developed hybrid ZrO₂/β-TCP filled PA 12 could be potentially utilized for bone replacement.

Keywords: Hybrid; Mechanical; Physical; Thermal; ZrO(2); β-TCP.