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The effect of crystallinity on the deformation mechanism and bulk mechanical properties of PLLA
Abstract
Poly (l-lactide) is a widely studied biomaterial, currently approved for use in a range of medical devices, however, most in vitro studies have so far focussed upon either the bulk properties during degradation and/or deformation, or on the microstructure of the unloaded material during degradation. This study aimed to combine these approaches through the technique of simultaneous small-angle X-ray scattering and tensile testing at various stages of degradation up to 8 months, on material with a range of induced microstructures. Results showed that the amorphous material deformed by crazing in the dry, wet and degraded states, however, the mechanism by which the craze developed changed significantly on hydration. Despite this difference, there was little change in the bulk mechanical properties. Crystalline materials deformed through crystal-mediated deformation, with contributions from both cavitation and fibrillated shear, but surprisingly, differences in the length scales within the spherulitic structure caused by annealing at different temperatures had very little effect on the mechanism of deformation, though differences were seen in the bulk properties. Furthermore, hydration had little effect on the crystalline materials, though degradation over 8 months resulted in loss of mechanical properties for samples produced at higher annealing temperatures. In conclusion, the introduction of crystallinity had a huge effect on both bulk and microscopic properties of PLLA, but the spherulitic structure of the crystalline material affected the bulk properties significantly more than it did the micromechanism of deformation.
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“The subsequent reduction in T g upon hydration can be attributed to water absorption and plasticisation, as water molecules diffuse between polymer chains, increasing free volume and reducing inter-chain bonding [40-43].”
From Tuning structural relaxations, mechanical properties, and degradation timescale of PLLA during hydrolytic degradation by blending with PLCL-PEG (2019) · cites this paper as [43]
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Metadata
- Authors
- Renouf-Glauser, A. C., Rose, J., Farrar, D. F., & Cameron, R. E.
- Affiliations
- University of Cambridge (GB)
- Smith & Nephew (United Kingdom) (GB)
- Corresponding author
- Cameron, Ruth Elizabeth
- Venue
- Biomaterials
- Publisher
- Elsevier BV
- Published
- 2005-10
- Volume
- 26
- Issue
- 29
- Pages
- 5771-5782
- ISSN
- 0142-9612 (ISSN-L)
- OpenAlex
- W2075491047
- Cited by
- 153
- References
- 26
- Citations by year
- 2026: 5 · 2025: 10 · 2024: 6 · 2023: 6 · 2022: 8 · 2021: 6 · 2020: 9 · 2019: 9 · 2018: 8 · 2017: 12 · 2016: 12 · 2015: 8 · 2014: 8 · 2013: 10 · 2012: 8
- FWCI
- 2.55
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Biomaterials (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Funders
- Smith and Nephew
- Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council
- Topics
- Physical Sciences › Materials Science › Biomaterials › biodegradable polymer synthesis and properties
- Physical Sciences › Materials Science › Polymers and Plastics › Polymer crystallization and properties
- Physical Sciences › Engineering › Biomedical Engineering › Bone Tissue Engineering Materials
- Keywords
- poly(L-lactic acid), crystallinity, deformation mechanisms, bulk mechanical properties, polymer degradation, crazing, spherulitic structure, annealing temperature, hydration, cavitation
- MeSH terms
- Biocompatible Materials, Fourier Analysis, Materials Testing, Polyesters, Polymers, Scattering, Radiation, Stress, Mechanical, Temperature, Tensile Strength, Time Factors, Water, X-Ray Diffraction, X-Rays, Crystallography, X-Ray, Lactic Acid, Absorbable Implants
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