Quantitative description of the morphology of polyurethane nanocomposites for medical applications

Abstract

This paper presents the application of stereology methods to the description of morphological properties of polyurethane nanocomposites for medical applications. The study of the cross-section surface structure of the obtained materials was performed by Atomic Force Microscopy. The volume of hard phase agglomerate was used to evaluate the degree of phase separation of the examined nanocomposites. The relationships between the domain agglomerate characteristics and the properties of nanocomposites obtained from them were analysed. The results showed that nanocomposites with non-modified nanosilica dioxide (SiO 2) and nanosilica dioxide modified with NH 2 groups differs from polyurethane within the following properties: size and volume of the agglomerates of the hard domains, biocompatibility, thermo-mechanical and abrasive wear resistance. © 2011 WIT Press.