Initial development into a novel technique for manufacturing a long fibre thermoplastic bioabsorbable composite:: in-situ polymerisation of poly-ε-caprolactone

A novel process has been developed for producing a bioabsorbable composite for use as a bone repair material. A variant of resin transfer moulding (RTM), a technique normally associated with thermosetting matrices, has been used with a thermoplastic matrix (poly-epsilon-caprolactone) to produce a long fibre composite which is intended to be completely degradable within the human body. The in-situ polymerisation technique is being developed for producing implants for reconstructive facial surgery. The combination of the specialist thermoplastic matrix, the long fibre reinforcement required and the complex three-dimensional geometry of these components has led to the development of an alternative processing route from those used for conventional long fibre thermoplastic composites. The chemical and mechanical properties of the poly-epsilon-caprolactone produced using this technique have been investigated and are comparable to commercially available material produced using a conventional bulk polymerisation process. Long fibre composites have been manufactured using both woven and knitted absorbable suture material. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.