Mechanical properties of calcined bone ash reinforced polyethylene composites

Abstract

The mechanical properties of calcined bone ash reinforced polyethylene composite at various volume fractions up to 0.50 was investigated. Such composites have been pioneered as analogue materials for cortical bone replacement. The dependence of the Young's modulus, tensile strength, strain to failure, flexural strength and hardness on the amount of filler was presented. The experimental results were compared with a few theoretical model predictions to explore the validity of the models at high filler loading. Scanning electron microscope was used to examine the morphology of the two phases, the dispersion of calcined bone ash in polyethylene matrix and the fracture surface of them. The results show that the Younq's modulus increases with an increase in calcined bone ash volume fraction, whereas the tensile strength and strain to failure decrease over the same range. The theoretical models have been examined for fit to the experimental data. At the same time, microhardness test increases with increasing calcined bone ash content and then it is ล good predictor for Young's modulus of the composite. Microscopic method reveals that plastic deformation is strongly influenced by the amount of calcined bone ash content. Hence, failure analysis changes from ductile to brittle mode.