%0 Journal Article
%T Bisphenyl-Polymer/Carbon-Fiber-Reinforced Composite Compared to Titanium Alloy Bone Implant
%A Richard C. Petersen
%J International Journal of Polymer Science
%D 2011
%I Hindawi Publishing Corporation
%R 10.1155/2011/168924
%X Aerospace/aeronautical thermoset bisphenyl-polymer/carbon-fiber-reinforced composites are considered as new advanced materials to replace metal bone implants. In addition to well-recognized nonpolar chemistry with related bisphenol-polymer estrogenic factors, carbon-fiber-reinforced composites can offer densities and electrical conductivity/resistivity properties close to bone with strengths much higher than metals on a per-weight basis. In vivo bone-marrow tests with Sprague-Dawley rats revealed far-reaching significant osseoconductivity increases from bisphenyl-polymer/carbon-fiber composites when compared to state-of-the-art titanium-6-4 alloy controls. Midtibial percent bone area measured from the implant surface increased when comparing the titanium alloy to the polymer composite from 10.5% to 41.6% at 0.8£żmm, , and 19.3% to 77.7% at 0.1£żmm, . Carbon-fiber fragments planned to occur in the test designs, instead of producing an inflammation, stimulated bone formation and increased bone integration to the implant. In addition, low-thermal polymer processing allows incorporation of minerals and pharmaceuticals for future major tissue-engineering potential. 1. Introduction Foremost advancements are expected in stem-cell/osteoprogenitor/osteoblast tissue-engineering for the next generation of bone implants as a result of new materials available from the stealth-electronic technology aeronautical/aerospace era. Through a better understanding of the microstructure and electron-transfer properties for matter, polymer-based fiber-reinforced materials can be bioengineered to provide important new materials for broad significant bone implant applications. In the world of materials, fibers are the strongest and possibly stiffest known forms of a substance matter [1]. When combined into an appropriate matrix like a polymer, much of the fiber mechanical-strength properties can be transferred through the bulk material [1, 2]. Such multiconstituent materials, referred to as composites, have led the way in the aeronautical/aerospace age, primarily as a means to provide stronger lighter structural parts. The basic polymer used for advanced design capability has been a class of thermosetting organic resins that cure by electron free-radical crosslinking [1, 2]. The thermoset resins generally contain similar interconnecting bisphenyl double-aromatic ring molecules that can be reinforced by chemical coupling with fibers for highly developed mechanical properties [1, 2]. The bisphenol-derived polymer function was further identified in 1936 through a pharmaceutical study
%U http://www.hindawi.com/journals/ijps/2011/168924/