Chemical bulk properties of biomaterials

Abstract

Biomaterials are made from different classes of known materials including metals and alloys, ceramics, glasses, as well as natural and synthetic polymers. This great variety of materials is a result of the different application profiles, biomaterials normally have to fulfil in the body. The basis for the specific properties of a distinct biomaterial is its composition and structure at an atomic and molecular level determining the chemical nature and finally the behaviour of these materials in a living organism. In this chapter it is aimed to introduce the fundamental concepts describing the atomic bondings and the corresponding molecular structures of the main classes of material. Main correlations between these molecular structures of materials and their resulting chemical behaviour will be discussed to better understand and predict the properties of those materials with regard to their use in contact with the living matter.