Technology and Some Mechanical Properties of Biocomposites Based on Mineral Components

Two types of new composite implant materials are investigated. Their mechanical characteristics, biocompatibility, and the dynamics of bond strength between the biocomposites and a live bone tissue are determined. The first type of the biomaterials is based on silicate glass and hydroxyapatite. Both the natural and a synthetic hydroxyapatite were used. The second type of the biomaterials was made of an ultrahigh-molecular polyethylene and the synthetic hydroxyapatite. Composite materials of both the types were implanted in the rabbit femur. The bond strength between the bone tissue and the implants was determined in 2, 4, 10, and 25 weeks.__________Translated from Mekhanika Kompozitnykh Materialov, Vol. 41, No. 2, pp. 273–282, March–April, 2005.