Prediction of the Mechanical Properties of Hydroxyapatite/Polymethyl Methacrylate/Carbon Nanotubes Nanocomposite

In this work carbon nanotubes (CNTs) were used to increase the strength and toughness of the hydroxyapatite (HA) and consequently to reduce its brittleness. The combination of CNT, HA and polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) has led to a new composite material, which has mechanical properties superior to those of conventional HA/PMMA for biomedical scaffold in tissue engineering. PMMA is a well known bone cement which is highly compatible with HA and also it can act as a functionalizing/linking material with HA. The mechanical properties of the new nanocomposite were predicted with a self-consistent computational model taking into account the structure morphology and the orientation of the CNTs. CNT reinforced HA composite is shown to be a promising coating material for high-load-bearing metal implants. The development of this new nanocomposite based on HA/PMMA and CNTs, may significantly contribute to the bond strength of the HA/PMMA metal interface and the overall mechanical properties of the HA/PMMA coating.