Three-dimensional braided fabrics-reinforced composites for load-bearing orthopedic applications Part I: mechanical performance

Abstract

Abstract Composite materials are being used in orthopedics and traumatology in light of their reduced weight, radiolucency and their lower stiffness than that of metals. Studies on biostable fibrous composites have recently demonstrated that these materials have a range of properties which make them suitable for orthopedic applications. In this study, three different three-dimensional (3-D) braided composites, carbon fiber- epoxy (C3D/EP), Kevlar fiber-epoxy (K3D/EP) and carbon fiber-poly(methyl methacrylate) (C3D/PMMA), were assessed in terms of mechanical properties and in-vitro durability to evaluate the feasibility of these composites as potential biomaterials. In addition, comparisons with other reported composites in original strength and modulus and in-vitro degradation were also made. Our studies indicate that a material with an appropriate stiffness combined with sufficient flexural and shear strength and high impact strength can be gained by tuning the combination of fiber and matrix, which opens an effective way of replacing conventional metallic devices with fibrous composites.