Hydroxyapatite Whiskers Improve Orthopedic Composites

Synthetic hydroxyapatite (HA) whiskers have been used as a new, biocompatible reinforcement for orthopedic biomaterials. In an experiment, high-density polyethylene (HDPE) was reinforced with either synthesized HA whiskers or commercially available spherical HA powder. HA whisker-reinforced HDPE composites possessed improved mechanical properties over those reinforced with spherical HA. (Abstract only.)