On PVDF composite as partially absorbable smart implants

For various orthopedic needs, several studies have been testified on non-absorbable implants, prepared with different metals/alloys, and composites. But yet little has been stated on the partially absorbable smart implants of thermoplastic composites for online health monitoring of veterinary patients. This article highlights the in-house development of affordable, polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) composite-based partially absorbable smart implants (with online sensing capability) for orthopedic needs in canines. Hydroxyapatite (HAp) and chitosan (CS) nanoparticles were reinforced in the PVDF matrix by a melt processing route with various weight proportions (wt.%) to fabricate a partially absorbable smart implant for the canine. The study suggests that the 8.0 wt.% HAp and 2.0 wt.% CS in PVDF is the superlative composition/proportion of reinforcement for preparing feedstock stock filaments (for 3D printing of partially absorbable smart implants), based on rheological, mechanical, thermal, dielectric, and voltage-current-resistance (V-I-R) characteristics. For the selected composition/proportion of PVDF composite, acceptable mechanical properties (such as modulus of toughness (MoT) 2.0 MPa, Young's modulus (E) 889 MPa), and dielectric properties (dielectric constant (ε) 9.6 at room temperature (30°C) and 20 MHz) for online sensing capabilities (for health monitoring) was observed. The results are braced by attenuated total reflection Fourier transform infrared (ATR-FTIR), X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS) analysis.