Fabrication and Properties of Composite Biomaterials Composed of Poly(L-Lactide) and Bovine Bone

Composite materials composed of poly(L-lactide) (PLLA) and bovine bone powder (average particle size 1.38 mu m) were fabricated and the properties were investigated. Partially deproteined and defatted bovine bone was obtained by pre-treatment methods. Composite films were obtained by mixing completely dissolved PLLA with granules of bovine bone, and bovine bone powder granules were distributed homogeneously in the PLLA matrix. PLLA/bovine bone composite materials were compacted by cold and hot pressing at a pressure of 130 MPa and temperature of 185-195 degrees C. With the increase of the amount of bone powder, the bending strength and shearing strength of composites decreased while the bending modulus increased. The fracture way of the composites was significantly influenced by the content of bovine bone powder, from ductile fracture to brittle fracture with increasing bone powder content. (C) Koninklijke Brill NV, Leiden, 2009