Production of polyvinyl alcohol/natural hydroxyapatite/magnesia/silicon carbide hybrid composites for use in orthopedic applications: Optical, electrical, and mechanical properties

Abstract

Biopolymers are promising materials that could be widely used in bone replacement applications if both their low mechanical and bioactivity properties are improved. In this regard, the main objective of this study was to improve the mechanical and biological properties in addition to improving the optical and electrical properties to be suitable for use in fracture healing purposes. Therefore, in this study, a batch of poly(vinyl alcohol; PVA) and biologically extracted hydroxyapatite (BHA) was mechanically blended in a ratio of (70:30 vol.%). Then, magnesium oxide (MgO) and silicon carbide (SiC) were added to this batch with different volume percentages and hot-pressed at 120 °C. The physical, mechanical, optical and electrical properties were measured. Additionally, the ability of these samples to form an apatite layer on their surfaces was evaluated by soaking them in simulated body fluid (SBF) and then examined by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The results obtained clarified that the mechanical properties in terms of microhardness, compressive strength, Young's modulus, longitudinal modulus, bulk modulus, and shear modulus were improved due to these additives by 64.45, 33.33, 29.51, 31.14, 30.14 and 27.58%, respectively. It was also observed that the presence of BHA and MgO nanoparticles enhanced the bioactivity, optical and electrical properties of the prepared samples. The results obtained are encouraging and the aim of this study has been successfully achieved.