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Fracture Toughness of Carbon Nanotube Reinforced Artificial Bone Tissue
Last modified: 2012-10-03
Abstract
The idea of hydroxyapatite (HAp) precipitation on functionalizedcarbon nanotubes (CNTs) introduces a new aspect of bone tissue engineering.Based on this idea, a mechanical model is developed for predicting effectiveYoung’s modulus and tensile strength of a representative volume element of a tipfunctionalizedCNT reinforced HAp. Results of this study show that there is anincrease in fracture toughness of the HAp-CNT composite compared to that ofHAp-collagen, i.e. natural bone. However, natural bone, showing quasi-brittlebehaviour, undergoes microcracking under everyday normal physiological loadwhich stimulate bone remodeling process to stop propagation of microcracks andfinally make new bones at the affected areas, as a toughening mechanism.Knowing that CNT reinforcement increases bone fracture toughness and so woulddecrease microcracks production, another aspect of this research is addressing ifthe CNT-HAp composite is better than HAp-collagen from a bone remodelingpoint of view.
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