Thermoplastic Copolyester nancomposites for biomedical applications Research Proposal

Thermoplastic Copolyester nancomposites for biomedical applications - Research Proposal Example Nanocomposites comprise a broad class of new materials that can combine the properties of bulk phase materials with nano-dimensional phase materials. The application of these materials to biomedical devices is a subject of intense research, providing an opportunity for researchers to develop and exploit the properties of new materials to achieve markedly different catalytic, mechanical, thermal, electrochemical, optical, and electrical properties from the component materials that may be useful in the development of contemporary medical devices and drug delivery systems. Copolyester thermoplastic elastomers combine the chemical and material properties of chemically crosslinked elastomers with engineered plastics, which are often much easier and affordable to manufacture. These materials consist of multiple domains, instead of the single domain found in polyesters, and are commonly referred to as â€Å"hard† and â€Å"soft† blocks (Cella, 1973, p.727). ... These materials combine the strength and processing characteristics available to engineered plastics with the performance abilities of thermoset elastomers, with the additional benefit of attaining optimal properties without vulcanization, a factor that can significantly reduce part cost (DSM 2011, p.2). Copolyesters, like polyesters, are polymers assembled from diacids and diols whose type may be varied in order to achieve certain material properties. Copolyesters, however, contain multiple distinct monomers (Jaarsma 2004, p.1). These materials have both excellent mechanical properties that duplicate rubber and leather at a fraction of the cost, making the materials commercially interesting for a broad variety of applications (Dupont 2011, p.2-3). Relative to other available elastomers, copolymer elastomer materials offer the most consistent performance over a range of temperatures, with little variation in properties at either extremely high or low temperatures (DSM 2011, p.2). Thi s is a property particularly useful in the sterilization of medical devices, which often involves extreme temperature ranges. In order to be useful for biomedical applications, the most important material property is to withstand repeat sterilization processes that may involve gamma irradiation, high temperatures, electron beams, and ethylene oxide (EtO) treatments. In addition, a material must show excellent chemical resistance, toughness, clarity, and color stability in order to be effectively applied to biomedical applications (Jaarsma 2004, p.1). Achieving an effective biomedical nanocomposite material that fits these stringent criteria