Mechanical Performance Efficiency and Wear Coefficient of PLA-HAZrO2 in Bones Replacements

Abstract

In the current study, biological polymer base polylactic acid (PLA) composites subsidized with biphasic ceramic powder (HAZrO2) was prepared and developed using active mechanical mixing method. Hydroxyapatite (HA) with size of 52nm was mixed with zirconium dioxide with size of 42nm at 1:1 mixing proportion via ceramic ball mill (350rpm for four hours). The prepared sample was mixed with polymeric powder at (0%, 2%, 4%, 6% and 8%) weight percentage ratio. Afterwards, fluidic mixing and ultrasonic waves methods were used to synthesize the final nanocomposites. Pin-On-Disc method was used to measure wear and the results outputted high advisable nanocomposites with reactance to the cankering compared to PLA alone. Vickers microhardness investigations appear demonstrably acceptable and with exponential enhancement with the incrementing percentage ratio of reinforcing materials. In addition, Young modulus and the absorption energy tests (using Charpy method) showed a high improvement in the mechanical properties of the reinforced n-HAZrO2 powder. All the results were obtained depending on the homogeneous distribution of the nanopowder using both Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM) and Energy Dispersive X-ray (EDX) techniques.