Processing and mechanical properties of hydroxyapatite–polysulfone laminated composites

Designing biocomposites that mimic bone with specific mechanical properties of toughness and elastic modulus is a long-standing challenge in the biomaterials field. Traditional biocomposites comprise polymer matrices reinforced with ceramic particles. Laminated composites are structures also found in nature that can offer improved mechanical properties such as strength, elastic modulus and toughness. Hydroxyapatite/polysulfone laminated composites were fabricated to develop biologically compatible, toughened composites that would match the elastic modulus of bone. Multilayered composites were successfully designed with improved toughness measured by the work of fracture. Toughness measurements were more than an order of magnitude greater than monolithic hydroxyapatite. The toughness and modulus values of hydroxyapatite/polysulfone were within the range of cortical bone.