Papers by Author: P.S. Uskoković

Abstract: In order to obtain more accurate properties after compaction of hydroxyapatite (HAp)/poly-L-lactide (PLLA) composite, high-resolution measurement of mechanical properties method is proposed to determine the properties of each phase separately, leading to information that are valuable for the development of new materials as well as for predictive modeling purposes. The PLLA polymer processing conditions used in hot pressing of the composite strongly influence final mechanical properties of the material in the solid state. Since the aim was to measure PLLA material properties, acceptable findings could only be made using unconstrained, cured in situ nanoindentation tests. A finite element analysis of the in situ indentation experiment was performed to determine required size of plain polymer area, needed for indentation test, which would minimize the particle influence on the matrix elastic behavior.

Abstract: Wear of ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE) and its composites is one of the main obstacles that limit the longevity of total joint replacements. Compression molded UHMWPE/quartz composites with organosiloxane as a cross-linking agent for UHMWPE matrix, were tested in nanoindentation and nanowear. The nanomechanical properties of the composite were examined in the light of nanoindentation experiments performed with a diamond tip of nominal radius of curvature of about 150 nm under conditions of various contact loads. Results from nanowear tests show that, in addition to the nanohardness and elastic modulus, the crosslinking procedure has the most pronounced effect on the tribological properties and at 0.5 phr organosiloxane, composites reache their maximum nanowear resistance. These findings are in agreement with the results of conventional mechanical and wear tests performed on these materials.

Abstract: The process of filament winding is particularly suited to the manufacturing of composite pipes. This paper first describes the overall process and its advantages for composite structures. Particular attention is devoted to bi-directional pipes [+j, -j]n. The static behaviour exhibits damage and plastic phenomena depending on the loading and stacking sequence. In the main part of the paper we focus our presentation on [+55, -55]n. The failure mode under tensile-internal pressure loads of bi-directional pipes is described, as well as their fatigue behaviour with the effect of several parameters (such as frequency) on the lifetime and the kinetics of damage. In particular, this paper shows that the effect of frequency is related to two phenomena: temperature and fatigue-creep coupling, which have opposing action on the lifetime.

Abstract: This study descripts processing of biphasic calcium-phosphate (BCP) and poly-L-lactide (PLLA) biocomposite implant material. The composite was obtained by mixing completely dissolved PLLA with granules of high crystalline BCP and was compacted by hot pressing using cylindrical dies at 450 K temperature and 98.1 MPa pressure, for 30 and 60 minutes. Wide-angle Xray structural (WAXS) analyses of BCP, PLLA and BCP/PLLA composite blocks were made followed by calorimetric (DSC) tests in the 320-520 K temperature range. Compression tests revealed that Young’s modulus and compressive strength of the composite increased with extended hot pressing time and were found to be within the bounds of the cortical bone values.