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Amorphous and crystalline polyetheretherketone: Mechanical properties and tissue reactions during a 3‐year follow‐up
Author(s) -
Nieminen Tuomo,
Kallela Ilkka,
Wuolijoki Erkki,
Kainulainen Heikki,
Hiidenheimo Ilmari,
Rantala Immo
Publication year - 2008
Publication title -
journal of biomedical materials research part a
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.849
H-Index - 150
eISSN - 1552-4965
pISSN - 1549-3296
DOI - 10.1002/jbm.a.31310
Subject(s) - crystallinity , materials science , amorphous solid , peek , ultimate tensile strength , differential scanning calorimetry , elongation , composite material , tensile testing , polymer , crystallography , chemistry , physics , thermodynamics
The study was aimed to test the mechanical strength, structural stability, and tissue reactions of optically amorphous and crystalline polyetheretherketone (PEEK) plates during a 3‐year follow‐up in vivo and in vitro . The injection‐moulded PEEK plates were implanted to the dorsal subcutis of 12 sheep, which were sacrificed at 6–156 weeks. Thereafter, the plates were subjected to tensile tests, and levels of crystallinity were assessed by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). Histological evaluation was carried out using the paraffin technique. In vitro properties were examined with the tensile test and DSC at 0–156 weeks. Tissue reactions were mild and fairly similar for the amorphous and crystalline plates at corresponding points in time. The mechanical characteristics of the plates remained stable over the entire follow‐up. The tensile yield load and elongation at the yield load of the crystalline plates were roughly double (∼500 vs. 270 N and 2.4 vs. 1.4 mm, respectively) in comparison to the amorphous plates. The elongation at break load of the crystalline plates was smaller than that of the amorphous ones (6 vs. 10). The level of crystallinity in both the optically amorphous (∼15%) and crystalline (32–34%) plates remained invariable during the follow‐up. The in vitro and in vivo data coincided remarkably well. In conclusion, both optically amorphous and crystalline PEEK plates are suitable for the fixation of fractures and osteotomies. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Biomed Mater Res, 2008