Physical and Mechanical Properties of Tilapia Scale Hydroxyapatite-Filled High-Density Polyethylene Composites

• Published in: Polymers Vol. 14; no. 2; p. 251
• Main Authors: Aiza Jaafar, C N, Zainol, I, Izyan Khairani, M I, Dele-Afolabi, T T
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Switzerland MDPI AG 08.01.2022; MDPI
• Subjects: Biocompatibility; Biomedical materials; Bones; composite; Composite materials; Coupling agents; Fillers; Functional groups; high density polyethylene; High density polyethylenes; Hydroxyapatite; Mechanical properties; Modulus of elasticity; Modulus of rupture in bending; Particle size; Physical properties; Polyethylene; Polymers; silane coupling agent; Silanes; Spray drying; Tensile strength; Tilapia; Tissue engineering; Toxicity; Selangor Malaysia; Malaysia; hydroxyapatite; high density polyethylene; silane coupling agent; composite; mechanical properties
• ISSN: 2073-4360; 2073-4360
• DOI: 10.3390/polym14020251

The effects of filler loading and silane coupling agent on the properties of hydroxyapatite (HAp)-filled high density polyethylene (HDPE) composites have been studied. The (HAp) powder was successfully produced from tilapia scales using the spray drying process utilized to prepare the HDPE/HAp composites. The FTIR peaks for the untreated HDPE/30HAp composite corresponded to the functional groups of HDPE (C-CH ) and -CH and HAp (PO and O-H). The FTIR spectrum for the silane-treated composite showed that the C=O and silanol groups were eliminated, which strongly confirms the chemical interaction between the HAp fillers and the HDPE matrix. The developed composites demonstrated enhanced mechanical performance, and in particular the treated HDPE/30HAp-S composite exhibited superior tensile strength, Young's modulus and flexural modulus of 28.26 MPa, 1272 MPa and 796 MPa, respectively. In vitro cytotoxicity analysis showed that the developed composites were non-toxic and have great potential to be used for biomedical application.