Cellular and fibre-reinforced composites for bone engineering

glass fibre composites were successfully prepared. A specific processing method was developed for consolidated composites exhibiting different fibre concentration gradients. As the conditions to prepare PLA polymer foams with specific porosity morphology were known, this study focused on a fibre-reinforced foam to investigate on a wide range of fibre and porosity fractions. Micrographs confirmed that the distribution and impregnation of fibres could also be controlled at a microscale. Furthermore it was shown that porosity distribution is indeed influenced by the presence of continuous reinforcing fibres. The mechanical properties of such consolidated and cellular composites were determined by three-point bending and compression tests. The results revealed the reinforcing effect of continuous glass fibres. The studied composites exhibit morphology gradients similar to natural bones.