Effects of Ethylene-Vinyl Acetate Copolymer on the Morphology and Mechanical Properties of Hydroxyapatite/Polyamide 66 Composites for Bone Tissue Engineering

Ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer (EVA) was used to toughen the hydroxyapatite/polyamide 66 (HA/PA66) composites, which were analyzed by SEM, DMA, FTIR, XRD and mechanical testing. The results indicated that the change of composition influenced significantly the properties of the composites by different mechanism, and the presence of 10 wt.% EVA could improve the impact strength of HA/PA66 composites more effectively. This was traced to the combined favorable physical characteristics of the flexibility of EVA molecular chains, more homogeneous distribution of HA in PA66 matrix, and the presence of interactions between EVA, HA and PA66.