Abstract
This study aims to investigate the electric responses (complex modulus and complex impedance analysis) of hydroxyapatite/starch bone scaffold as a function of hydroxyapatite/starch proportion and the microstructural features. Hence, the non-porous and porous hydroxyapatite/starch composites were fabricated with various hydroxyapatite/starch proportions (70/30, 60/40, 50/50, 40/60, 30/70, 20/80, and 10/90 wt/wt%). Microstructural analysis of the porous hydroxyapatite/starch composites was carried out by using scanning electron microscopy. It shows that the formation of hierarchical porous microstructures with high porosity is more significant at a high starch proportion. The complex modulus and complex impedance analysis were conducted to investigate the electrical conduction mechanism of the hydroxyapatite/starch composites via dielectric spectroscopy within a frequency range from 5 MHz to 12 GHz. The electrical responses of the hydroxyapatite/starch composites are highly dependent on the frequency, material proportion, and microstructures. High starch proportion and highly porous hierarchical microstructures enhance the electrical responses of the hydroxyapatite/starch composite. The material proportion and microstructure features of the hydroxyapatite/starch composites can be indirectly reflected by the simulated electrical parameters of the equivalent electrical circuit models.
Funder
Ministry of Higher Education Malaysia
Department of Electrical and Electronics Engineering, Faculty of Engineering and Technology, Tunku Abdul Rahman University of Management and Technology
Subject
Polymers and Plastics,General Chemistry