Dynamic mechanical properties of cortical bone: The effect of mineral content

The purpose of this study was to explore the effect of mineral content on the dynamic mechanical properties and denaturation temperature of cortical bone. Cortical bone specimens from bovine femora were treated with 0.2 mol/l buffered solution of EDTA to reduce bone mineral content (BMC). The viscoelasticity, microstructure and denaturation temperature of bone was characterized by dynamic mechanical thermal analyzer (DMTA), FTIR spectroscopy and differential scanning calorimeter (DSC), respectively. FTIR analysis revealed that EDTA treatment had a negligible effect on the microstructure of the collagen fibers. DMTA analysis indicated that the storage modulus (E′) and loss modulus (E″) of bone specimens decreased upon decreasing BMC, whereas loss factor (tanδ) increased upon decreasing BMC. In addition, tanδ peak broadened and splitted into two peaks upon decreasing BMC. A lessening of transformation temperature with decreasing BMC was observed in DSC testing.