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Abstract

The self-reinforcing and hydrolytic degradation of an amorphous poly(ester-amide) (PEA) based on lactic acid have been studied and compared with those of poly-L-lactide (PLLA). The studied PEA-rods were self-reinforced (SR) by solid-state die drawing resulting double shear strength. The hydrolytic degradation of PEA was studied during exposure to phosphate buffered saline at pH 7.4 and at 37 degrees C for 18 weeks. The degradation and mechanical properties of PEA were also followed in a self-reinforced composite structure consisting of PEA and sol-gel derived SiO(2)-fibers (SGF, 8 wt %). The hydrolytic degradation of the SR-PEA-rods with and without SG-fibers was significantly faster than that of SR-PLLA-rods. The weight average molecular weight (Mw) of PEA decreased by 90% from the initial Mw during the first 6 weeks in hydrolysis, when the Mw of the PLLA decreased by 10%.

Initial mechanical properties of phosphate-glass fibre-reinforced rods for use as resorbable intramedullary nails

“…The flexural strength and modulus for SR-PLA (selfreinforced poly-lactic acid) rods in the literature range from 160 to 270 MPa and from 3.5 to 16 GPa, respectively [8,20,[33][34][35] depending on the draw ratio and chemical composition of the PLA. Their shear and compressive strengths reported were *100 and *80 MPa, respectively [20,35].…”