Hydroxyapatite obtained from Trachurus picturatus murphyi bone used in high-density polyethylene biocomposite: Evaluation of thermal and mechanical tensile properties

In the present work, hydroxyapatite (HA) obtained from bone of Trachurus picturatus murphyi (jurel) was used as a filler in extrusion-molded high-density polyethylene (HDPE) -based biocomposites. The objective of the research was to evaluate the influence of the percentage of HA (0, 10, 20, 30 and 40 % wt) on the mechanical properties of tensile strength, elastic modulus and maximum deformation, as well as its thermal properties by thermogravimetric analysis TGA and differential scanning calorimetry DSC of the biocomposites for their possible use in bone replacement and regeneration. The HA was obtained by thermal synthesis method at 800 ° C for 4 hours. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) characterization confirmed HA formation by thermal synthesis of Trachurus picturatus murphyi bone powder by identifying functional groups in characteristic peaks. The mechanical test results indicate that the tensile strength of the biocomposite decreases as the percentage of HA increases, being the biocomposite at 10% HA that achieved the highest value at 25.93 MPa. While the elastic modulus increased to a stiffness of 376.19 MPa when the percentage of HA is increased with 40% HA. Finally the maximum deformation falls as the HA content increases, achieving a minimum value of 13.72% to 40% HA. The thermal characterization of the HDPE-HA biocomposites confirmed an increase in the degree of crystallinity of the HDPE matrix and a slight decrease in melting temperature.