[en] The porous structure of two series of poly(d,l-lactide)/Bioglass® composite foams prepared by thermal-induced phase separation was investigated by image analysis and impedance spectroscopy. Polymer solutions of either low or high molecular weight containing different concentrations (up to 50 wt.%) of Bioglass® particles of mean particle size d < 5 µm were studied. The morphology of both macro- and micropores was studied by scanning electron microscopy and image analysis of both neat and composite foams (containing 10-50 wt.% Bioglass®). The pore connectivity of both neat polymer and composite foams was characterized by impedance spectroscopy in relation with their transport properties. The influence of the foam composition (i.e., polymer molecular weight and concentration of Bioglass®) on pore microstructure was studied using these non-destructive methods. It was found that addition of Bioglass® particles has a pronounced effect on pore orientation, leading to increasing loss of order of pore structure, especially for low-molecular weight PDLLA foams.
Research center :
Center for Education and Research on Macromolecules (CERM)
Disciplines :
Materials science & engineering Chemistry
Author, co-author :
Blacher, Silvia ; Université de Liège - ULiège > Department of Applied Chemistry > Laboratory of Chemical Engineering
Maquet, Véronique; Université de Liège - ULiège > Department of Chemistry > Center for Education and Research on Macromolecules (CERM)
Jérôme, Robert ; Université de Liège - ULiège > Department of Chemistry > Center for Education and Research on Macromolecules (CERM)
Pirard, Jean-Paul ; Université de Liège - ULiège > Department of Applied Chemistry > Laboratory of Chemical Engineering
Boccaccini, Aldo R.; Imperial College, London, UK > Department of Materials > Centre for Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine
Language :
English
Title :
Study of the connectivity properties of Bioglass®-filled polylactide foam scaffolds by image analysis and impedance spectroscopy
ARC - Actions de recherche concertées (ARC No. 00/05-265)
Funders :
BELSPO - SPP Politique scientifique - Service Public Fédéral de Programmation Politique scientifique F.R.S.-FNRS - Fonds de la Recherche Scientifique [BE]
Commentary :
The authors acknowledge Acta Biomaterialia (Elsevier) for allowing them to archive this paper.
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