Experimental determination of physical, chemical and surface properties of biocompatible thermoplastic

The main purpose of this research is determination of physical, chemical and surface properties of thermoplastics, which were certificated for medical employment, for implant or prosthesis manufacturing. The physical and chemical structure of thermoplastics (polyacrylonitrile-co-butadiene-co-styrene, polycarbonate, polyetherimide) were investigated with the Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), differential thermal and thermogravimetric analysis (DTA/TG), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), wide-angle X-ray diffraction (XRD) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The surface of all investigated thermoplastics had a transition or a hydrophobic state. The contact angle hysteresis by distilled water was in range 95.6–103.0° that indicates sticky wetting behavior of surfaces. The contact angle by blood plasma was in the range 84.7–92.1°, depending on the chemical structure of the thermoplastic polymer. Despite the lower contact angle value of the blood plasma, the amount of its adsorption was greater than in case of distilled water, and it should be considered in development of medical polymer devices.