Structure and physicomechanical properties of thermoplastic biodegradable composites based on polyhydroxyalkanoates and hydroxyapatite

Keywords

polyhydroxyalkanoates, hydroxyapatite, composite, crystallinity, thermal and physicomechanical properties, osteoplastic materials.

Cite as

Ivanukh O. O., Semeniuk I. V., Melnyk Yu. Ya., Humenetskyi T. V., Bilyi L. M., and Skorokhoda V. Yo. Structure and physicomechanical properties of thermoplastic biodegradable composites based on polyhydroxyalkanoates and hydroxyapatite. Physicochemical Mechanics of Materials. 2026. 62(4), 100-107. https://doi.org/10.15407/pcmm2026.04.100

Abstract

Structure, thermal and physicomechanical properties of thermoplastic biodegradable composites based on polyhydroxyalkanoates and hydroxyapatite were studied. Poly(3-hydroxybutyrate) and its copolymers with 3-hydroxyvalerate, 3-hydroxyhexanoate and 4-hydroxybutyrate were used as polymer matrices. The structural features of the materials were evaluated by X-ray diffraction analysis, thermal properties – by differential scanning calorimetry and thermogravimetric analysis, while physicomechanical characteristics – by strength and relative elongation during tension. It is found that the introduction of hydroxyapatite does not change the crystalline organization of polyhydroxyalkanoate matrices, but affects the degree of crystallinity of the composites. With an increase in the proportion of hydroxyapatite, the crystallization, melting and thermal decomposition temperatures, as well as the character of deformation fracture of materials change. It is found that a high content of hydroxyapatite reduces the strength and increases the brittleness of composites, while moderate filling allows us to maintain an acceptable balance of thermal and physicomechanical properties.

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