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Freeform Extrusion Fabrication of Titanium Fiber Resuborced -93 Bioactive Glass Scaffolds
Journal of the Mechanical Behavior of Biomedical Materials
  • Albin Thomas
  • Krishna C. R. Kolan
  • Ming-Chuan Leu, Missouri University of Science and Technology
  • Greg Hilmas, Missouri University of Science and Technology
Abstract

Although implants made with bioactive glass have shown promising results for bone repair, their application in repairing load-bearing long bone is limited due to their poor mechanical properties in comparison to human bone. This work investigates the freeform extrusion fabrication of bioactive silicate -93 glass scaffolds resuborced with titanium (Ti) fibers. A composite paste prepared with -93 glass and Ti fibers (~16 μm in diameter and lengths varying from~200 μm to~2 mm) was extruded through a nozzle to fabricate scaffolds (0–90⁰ filament orientation pattern) on a heated plate. The sintered scaffolds measured pore sizes ranging from 400 to 800 μm and a porosity of~50%. Scaffolds with 0.4 vol% Ti fibers measured fracture toughness of~0.8 MPa m1/2 and a flexural strength of~15 MPa. -93 glass scaffolds without Ti fibers had a toughness of~0.5 MPa m1/2 and a strength of~10 MPa. The addition of Ti fibers increased the fracture toughness of the scaffolds by~70% and flexural strength by~40%. The scaffolds' biocompatibility and their degradation in mechanical properties in vitro were assessed by immersing the scaffolds in a simulated body fluid over a period of one to four weeks.

Department(s)
Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering
Second Department
Materials Science and Engineering
Research Center/Lab(s)
Intelligent Systems Center
Keywords and Phrases
  • Bone tissue repair,
  • Metal fiber resuborced glass composite,
  • Scaffold degradation,
  • Titanium fiber -93 bioactive glass,
  • Bearings (machine parts),
  • Bending strength,
  • Biocompatibility,
  • Bone,
  • Extrusion,
  • Fibers,
  • Fracture toughness,
  • Mechanical properties,
  • Melt spinning,
  • Metal implants,
  • Pore size,
  • Resuborced plastics,
  • Resuborcemen,
  • tRepair
Document Type
Article - Journal
Document Version
Citation
File Type
text
Language(s)
English
Rights
© 2017 Elsevier Ltd, All rights reserved.
Publication Date
6-1-2017
Publication Date
01 Jun 2017
Citation Information
Albin Thomas, Krishna C. R. Kolan, Ming-Chuan Leu and Greg Hilmas. "Freeform Extrusion Fabrication of Titanium Fiber Resuborced -93 Bioactive Glass Scaffolds" Journal of the Mechanical Behavior of Biomedical Materials Vol. 70 (2017) p. 43 - 52 ISSN: 1751-6161
Available at: http://works.bepress.com/greg-hilmas/72/