Viscoelastic properties of composites of calcium alginate and hydroxyapatite

Calcium alginate was reinforced with hydroxyapatite (HA) particles, whose dimensions were a few micrometres, with mass fraction, mf, values in the range 0-0.8. Cylindrical samples of these composite materials were subjected to cyclic compression in the frequency range f = 0.001-20 Hz; in these tests a sinusoidal load of amplitude 1 N was applied either side of a static compression of 2 N. Storage and loss moduli, E' and E'', respectively, were found to be independent of particle size; however, E' increased with frequency consistent with the materials undergoing a glass transition. Above frequencies of about 0.05 Hz, E' > E'' for all materials. For each frequency, the dependence of the moduli on log10f could be represented by a third order polynomial; these equations can be used to calculate E' and E'' for a range of compositions. Approximate values of (E*) = square root of E'2 + E''2 are predicted by a Reuss model.