n-Hydroxyapatite/PCL-Pluronic-PCL Nanocomposites for Tissue Engineering. Part 2: Thermal and Tensile Study

In this work a series of nano-hydroxyapatite/poly(ε-caprolactone)-Pluronic-poly(ε-caprolactone) (n-HA/PCFC) nanocomposites has been prepared. Thermal properties of the nanocomposites are studied by thermogravimetry analysis (TGA) and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). The TGA/DTG results reveal that thermal stability of n-HA/PCFC nanocomposites is improved by incorporation of n-HA into polymer matrix, and the thermo-degradation temperature increased slightly with increasing HA loading. DSC results show that the glass transition temperature (T g) changed by the addition of n-HA. The mechanical properties of the nanocomposites are investigated by tensile testing. The morphology for tensile-fractured surfaces of nanocomposites is observed by scanning electron microscopy. The effect of n-HA contents of nanocomposites on tensile strength and morphology is also discussed.