Effects of fibers and nanoparticles reinforcements on the mechanical and biological properties of hybrid composite polyetheretherketone/short carbon fiber/Nano‐SiO₂

Polyetheretherketone (PEEK) composites reinforced with short carbon fibers (SCFs) (20 vol%) and nano‐SiO₂ (1, 1.5, and 2 wt%) particles were prepared by incorporating nanoparticles into PEEK/SCF composites using the internal mixer. In the development of biomaterial, both mechanical and biological characteristics must be considered. Thus, the effects of nanoparticles on the mechanical and biological properties of the PEEK/SCF composites were studied. To evaluate the mechanical properties of this biomaterial, nanoindentation method and tensile test were used. Results showed that by increasing the weight percentage of nano‐SiO₂, the elastic modulus, hardness, and tensile energies were increased. In vitro biological evaluations of the samples were done by performing cytotoxicity (3‐[4,5‐dimethylthiazol‐2‐yl]‐2,5‐iphenyltetrazolium bromide assay) and cell adhesion assays. Cell–material interaction with the surface of the composite was examined by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). In all of the tests, osteoblast cells were used. Results of biological tests showed that the samples are biocompatible and they have no toxicity. Also, Adhered cells presented a normal morphology by SEM and many of the cells were observed to be undergoing cell division. POLYM. COMPOS., 34:1960–1968, 2013. © 2013 Society of Plastics Engineers