Bioinspired Hydroxyapatite/Poly(methyl methacrylate) Composite with a Nacre‐Mimetic Architecture by a Bidirectional Freezing Method

• DOI: 10.1002/adma.201504313
• Publication Date: 2015-11-10T16:30:47Z
• Authors: Hao Bai; Flynn Walsh; Bernd Gludovatz; Benjamin Delattre; Caili Huang; Yuan Chen; Antoni P. Tomsia; Robert O. Ritchie
• Keywords: In situ polymerization; Characterization

Using a bidirectional freezing technique, combined with uniaxial pressing and in situ polymerization, “nacre-mimetic” hydroxyapatite/poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) composites are developed by processing large-scale aligned lamellar ceramic scaffolds. Structural mechanical characterization shows “brick-and-mortar” structures, akin to nacre, interesting combinations of strength, stiffness, work fracture, which provide pathway making strong tough lightweight materials.