Processing of homogeneous ceramic/polymer blends for bioresorbable composites

Three methods to mix ceramic fillers, hydroxyapatite or β-tricalcium phosphate, with a polymer matrix, a poly l-lactic acid, are investigated as a first step prior to supercritical foaming to prepare porous composite structures for biomedical applications. First the dry process consists in mixing ceramic powder and polymer pellets before a compression molding step. The second technique is based on the dispersion of ceramic fillers into a...