No abstract

Polyetheretherketone (PEEK), which is highly resistant to aggressive media and various types of radiation, is widely used in various industries. At the same time, the information on the molecular weight characteristics of PEEK, which is necessary for the creation of polymer materials with specifi ed properties, is quite limited. Determination of these characteristics is complicated by the almost complete insolubility of PEEK in organic solvents. The work is devoted to the analysis of the applicability of viscometry, determination of the melt fl ow index and gel permeation chromatography (GPC) for assessing the molecular weight characteristics of PEEK. The preliminary modifi cation of the polymer to transform it into a soluble state has been considered as an alternative approach. A GPC-method of the determination of molecular mass of sulfonated PEEK has been developed. The values of average molecular weights for samples produced by Petrov Institute of Plastics and a commercial sample Victrex 150G were determined. Good agreement of the GPC data with the results of determining the melt fl ow index of the polymer makes it possible to consider the latter as an express method for assessing the molecular weight of a polymer.

This work is devoted to the development of a biocompatible polymer-composite material based on polyetheretherketone (PEEK) with the addition of a reinforcing phase - hexagonal boron nitride (h-BN). This composite is considered as a promising material for use in medicine, for example, for the manufacture of components of a hip joint endoprosthesis or plates for fi xing fractures.The paper considers the properties of the initial components of the material under development, studies the data on the biocompatibility of materials based on PEEK and their application in medicine, in particular, in orthopedics. Experimental data were used to study the eff ect of diff erent concentrations of h-BN on the properties of the composite. In the course of the work, the morphology and size of the particles of the starting materials, as well as the surface of the obtained samples after testing, were investigated, the dependences of the deformation-strength, tribological and biological characteristics on the composition of the composite were obtained and analyzed. A brief analysis of the results obtained is presented, as well as promising directions for the application of the developed material in orthopedics are proposed.