Investigating the Mechanical Strength and Degradation of Bone Scaffold Fabricated from Hydroxyapatite and Polyurethane Foam

The fabrication and characterization of bone scaffold which was produced from hydroxyapatite and polyurethane foam were investigated. Thermal and mechanical properties of the scaffolds were studied via X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, and compression test and thermogravimetry technique. Also, hardness test, three-point bending and investigation of biological behavior were employed. The fabricated scaffolds showed high compressive strength with favorable percentage of porosity. Thus, it might be concluded that the polymer foam fabrication technique can be appropriate for producing bone scaffolds. By increasing the weight percentage of hydroxyapatite from 45 to 65, the density of the scaffold increased from 1.37 to 1.57 g/cm3 and compressive strength increased from 0.82 to 1.7 MPa while the porosity decreased from 57.8 to 34.39.