Preparation and properties of carbon fiber/ hydroxyapatite‐poly(methyl methacrylate) biocomposites

An in situ polymerization with a later solution co‐mixing approach was used in the preparation of polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) matrix composites using hydroxyapatite (HA) nanoparticles and short carbon fibers(C_(f)) as reinforcing materials. The microstructures and fracture surface morphologies of the prepared C_(f)/HA‐PMMA composite were characterized using XRD, FTIR, SEM, EDS, and FESEM analyses. The mechanical properties of the composites were tested by a universal testing machine. Results show that the surface of nitric acid‐oxidized carbon fibers and lecithin‐treated HA contain new functional groups. Uniform dispersion of short fibers and HA nanoparticles in PMMA matrix is successfully achieved and the mechanical properties of the composites are obviously improved. The flexural strength, flexural modulus, and Young's modulus of the composites reach the maximum value 128.12 MPa, 1.150 GPa, and 4.572 GPa when carbon fiber and HA mass fraction arrive to 4% and 8%, respectively. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2010