BIOMATERIALS

Biomedical Engineering
Sem-III

Prof. Arunkumar Ram

Module 8: Properties and

Applications of Composite
Biomaterals

Semester: III

INTRODUCTION

The word composite means consisting of two

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or more distinct parts.

At atomic level , metals, polymers could be

called composite materials since they consist
of different and distinct atomic groups.

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At microstructure level cm metal

alloy like carbon steel contains ferrite and

pearlite, this could be distinctly vsisible

Prof. Arunkumar Ram

Dept. of Biomedical Engg.

Semester: III

INTRODUCTION

Composite

materials

contain

chemically

distinct interface separating them.

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distinct constituents at macroscale, having a

Prof. Arunkumar Ram

Dept. of Biomedical Engg.

Semester: III
Module 8

INTRODUCTION
Composite

materials

consists

of

continuous phase and a discontinuous

phase materials.
Discontinuous

phase is stronger and

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called as a reinforcing material.

Continuous

Prof. Arunkumar Ram

phase is called the matrix.

4

Dept. of Biomedical Engg.

Semester: III
Module 8

INTRODUCTION
The

properties

of

composites

are

strongly influenced by the properties of

their

constituent

distribution

and

materials
interaction

their
among

them.
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Also

its

the geometry of the reinforcement,

concentration,

orientation.

Prof. Arunkumar Ram

distribution

and
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Dept. of Biomedical Engg.

Semester: III
Module 8

INTRODUCTION
Most

composites

are

fabricated

to

provide mechanical properties such as

strength,

stiffness,

toughness,

and

fatigue resistance.

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Geometry

Prof. Arunkumar Ram

of reinforcement.

Dept. of Biomedical Engg.

Semester: III
Biomaterials

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CLASSIFICATION

Prof. Arunkumar Ram

Dept. of Biomedical Engg.

Semester: III

REINFORCING SYSTEMS

The main reinforcing materials that have

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been used in biomedical composites are

carbon fibers,

polymers fibers,

ceramics

and glasses

.The reinforcement either have been inert

or absorbable.

Prof. Arunkumar Ram

Dept. of Biomedical Engg.

Semester: III

REINFORCING SYSTEMS

The main reinforcing materials that have

Biomaterials

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been used in biomedical composites are

carbon fibers,

polymers fibers,

ceramics

and glasses

.The reinforcement either have been inert

or absorbable.

Prof. Arunkumar Ram

Dept. of Biomedical Engg.

Semester: III

CARBON FIBERS

Several commercial products have used

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carbon fiber as reinforcing material to

enhance the mechanical properties of the
polymeric resin systems in which it is
included..

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Example.

Reinforcing porous poly tetra fluoro ethylene

for soft tissue replacement and fro attachment
of orthopedic implants

Prof. Arunkumar Ram

10

Dept. of Biomedical Engg.

Semester: III

CARBON FIBERS

It

has

also

been

used

in

reinforcing

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Module 8

UHMWPE

used as bearing surface in total joint

prostheses,

as a tendon and ligament repair materials,

to reinforce fracture fixation devices and

to

reinforce

total

joint

replacement

components

Prof. Arunkumar Ram

11

Dept. of Biomedical Engg.

Semester: III

CARBON FIBERS-FABRICATION PROCESS

Carbon fiber for biomedical use is produced
three step process:
1.

Stabilization

2.

Carbonization

3.

Graphitization

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from polyacronitrile (PAN) precursor fiber in

Prof. Arunkumar Ram

12

Dept. of Biomedical Engg.

Semester: III

CARBON FIBERS-FABRICATION PROCESS

Stabilization

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PAN fibers are first streteched to align the

fibrillar

networks

withing

each

fiber

parallel to the fiber axis

Oxidized in air at about 200-220C while

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held in tension.

Prof. Arunkumar Ram

13

Dept. of Biomedical Engg.

Semester: III

CARBON FIBERS-FABRICATION PROCESS

Carbonization

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Stabilized PAN fibers are pyroluzed in a

controlled environment until they become
transformed into carbon fibers by the
elimination

of

O,H

and

from

the

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precursor fiber.
Carried out in inert environment in the
1000-1500C

Prof. Arunkumar Ram

14

Dept. of Biomedical Engg.

Semester: III

CARBON FIBERS-FABRICATION PROCESS

Graphitization

within each fiber, greatly increasing the

tensile strength of the material/

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Graphite like fibrils or ribbons are formed

Prof. Arunkumar Ram

15

Dept. of Biomedical Engg.

Semester: III

PLOYMERIC FIBERS

Polymeric fibers are not strong or stiff

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enough to be used as to reinforce other

materials.

Exceptions are aramid fibers and UHMWPE

fibers.

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These fibers are used for their absorbility

and not their mechanical superiority.

Prof. Arunkumar Ram

16

Dept. of Biomedical Engg.

Aramid fibers trade name is Kevlar.

Kevlar composites are used commercially

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Semester: III

PLOYMERIC FIBERS

where high strength and stiffness, damage

resistance and resistance to fatigue and
stress rupture are important.

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Examples

Hip prostheses stems

Fracture fixation devices

Ligament and tendon prostheses

Prof. Arunkumar Ram

17

Dept. of Biomedical Engg.

Semester: III

PLOYMERIC FIBERS

UHMWPE Fibers are less used in biomedical

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applications

Demonstrates excellent biocompatibility

Preliminary data suggests less favorbale

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response to UHMWPE.

Prof. Arunkumar Ram

18

Dept. of Biomedical Engg.

Semester: III

PLOYMERIC FIBERS

Absorbable polymer fibers have been used to

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reinforce absorbable polymers in fabricating

fully absorbable fracture fixation systems.

PLA and PGA polymer have been used for

this purpose.

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Examples

Sutures

Scaffolds

Prof. Arunkumar Ram

19

Dept. of Biomedical Engg.

Semester: III

CERAMIC FIBERS

Reinforcement

phosphates,

includes

aluminum

various

and

calcium

zinc

based

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phosphates, glass and glass ceramics and

bone minerals.

Calcium phosphate with Ca/P Ration of 1.51.67 have been used extensively.

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Tricalcium

phosphates

have

nominal

composition of .

Whitelockite mineral

Hydroxyapatite

Prof. Arunkumar Ram

20

Dept. of Biomedical Engg.

Semester: III

GLASSES FIBERS

Glass fibers are used to reinforce plastic

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matrices in forming structural composites

and molding compounds.

Glass fiber composite materials have the

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following favorable properties

High strength to weight ratio

Good dimensional ability

Good resistance to heat, cold, moisture and corrosion

Good electrical and insulation properties

Ease of fabrication

Relatively low cost

Prof. Arunkumar Ram

21

Dept. of Biomedical Engg.

Semester: III

GLASSES FIBERS

Glass fibers produced from a lime aluminum

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borosilicate

glass typically has a tensile

strength of about 3GPa and Modulus of

elasticity of 72GPa.

Absorbable glass fibers have TS-500MPa and

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Modulus of Elasticity 78GPa

Prof. Arunkumar Ram

22

Dept. of Biomedical Engg.

MATRIX SYSTEMS

Biomedical

composites

have

been

fabricated with both absorbable and non

absorbable matrices.

Natural polymers and calcium salts have

also been used.

Polysulfones, UHMWPE, Poly tetra fluoro

ethylene, poly ether ether ketone, poly
methyl metha acrylate.

MATRIX SYSTEMS

These polymers reinforced with carbon

fibers and ceramics have been used as

Prosthetic hip stems

Fracture fixation devices

Artificial joint bearing surfaces

Artificial tooth roots

Bone cements

MATRIX SYSTEMS

Absorbable polymers can be produced from

absorbable -polyester materials such as
PLA and PGA.

These - polyesters have been investigated

for use as sutures and as implant materials
for repairing a variety of osseous and soft

tissues.

MATRIX SYSTEMS

Range of absorbable polymers include

PLA

PGA

Poly(lactide-coglycolide)

Polydioxanone

Poly(glycolide-cotrimethylene carbonate)

Poly(ethylene carbonate)

Poly(imino carbonates)

Polycaprolactone

Polyhydroxybutyrate

Poly (amino aicds)

Poly(ester amides)

Poly(ortho esters)

Poly(anhydrides)

cynoacrylates

FABRICATION OF FIBER-REINFORCED
COMPOSITES

Open Molding Techniques

Vacuum Bag Autoclave Process

Filament Winding Process

Closed Molding Techniques

FABRICATION OF FIBER-REINFORCED
COMPOSITES

Open Molding Techniques

Vacuum Bag Autoclave Process

This process is used to produce high performance

laminates usually of fiber-reinforced epoxy.

Composite materials produced by this method are

used in aircraft and aerospace applications.

FABRICATION OF FIBER-REINFORCED
COMPOSITES

Vacuum Bag Autoclave process

The first step is production of prepreg

prepreg is a basic structure consisting of thin

sheet of matrix embedded with uniaxially
oriented reinforcing fibers.

Pieces of prepreg sheets are cut out and placed

on top of each other on a shaped tool to form a
laminate

FABRICATION OF FIBER-REINFORCED
COMPOSITES

Vacuum Bag Autoclave process

The layers may be placed in different directions to

produce the desired strength and stiffness.

After this vacuum is being applied to remove the

trapped air from the laminate part.

Curing is done by heating it in autoclave at 190C

and pressure of about 700kPa.

Further finishing is done.

Examples: Fracture fixation devices and total hip

stems

FABRICATION OF FIBER-REINFORCED
COMPOSITES

Vacuum Bag Autoclave process

FABRICATION OF FIBER-REINFORCED
COMPOSITES

Filament Winding Process

High strength hollow cylinders can be produced.

Fiber reinforcement is fed through a resin bath and

then wound on a suitable mandrel.

When sufficient layers have been applied the wound

mandrel is cured.

The molded part is then stripped from the mandrel.

High fiber orientation, high fiber loading, high tensile

strength.

Example: intramedullary rod for fracture fixation

Prosthetic hip stems.

FABRICATION OF FIBER-REINFORCED
COMPOSITES

Filament Winding Process

FABRICATION OF FIBER-REINFORCED
COMPOSITES

Filament Winding Process

FABRICATION OF FIBER-REINFORCED
COMPOSITES

Closed-Mold Processes

Compression molding

Injection Molding

Continuous pultrusion

FABRICATION OF FIBER-REINFORCED
COMPOSITES

Closed-Mold Processes

Compression molding

Prepregs are arranged in two piece mold.

Heated under pressure to produce laminated

part

Useful for thermoplastic matrix applications

FABRICATION OF FIBER-REINFORCED
COMPOSITES

Closed-Mold Processes

FABRICATION OF FIBER-REINFORCED
COMPOSITES

Closed-Mold Processes

Injection molding

In injection molding the fiber-matrix is injected into

a mold at elevated temperature and pressure.

Finished part is removed after cooling.

Extremely fast and inexpensive tecnique.

Examples: Bone plates, screws

FABRICATION OF FIBER-REINFORCED
COMPOSITES

Closed-Mold Processes

Injection molding

FABRICATION OF FIBER-REINFORCED
COMPOSITES

Closed-Mold Processes

Continuous pultrusion

Fiber reinforced plastics of constant cross

section

such

as

structural

shapes,

beams,

channels, pipe and tubing can be made.

Continuous strands of fibers are impregnated

in resin bath and then drawn through a heated
die.

Intramedullary
fragments.

rods,

pin

fixation

of

bone

FABRICATION OF FIBER-REINFORCED
COMPOSITES

Closed-Mold Processes

Continuous pultrusion

FABRICATION OF FIBER-REINFORCED
COMPOSITES

Closed-Mold Processes

Continuous pultrusion