Bioactive composites of polymer and glass and method for making same
The present invention generally relates to bioactive composites of polymer and glass and, more particularly, to bioactive implants. The present invention also relates to methods of manufacturing bioactive composites. The bioactive composite finds utility in a variety of load-bearing clinical applications including spine, orthopaedic and dental procedures.
1. A non-resorbable bioactive composite, comprising:
a homogeneous mixture of a polyetheretherketone (PEEK)polymer and
alkali-containing bioactive glass particles,
wherein the PEEK polymer has a particle size of from 1,000 μm to 4,000 μm and is present in an amount of 70% to 80% by weight of the composite, and
wherein the alkali-containing bioactive glass particles are 45S5 or Combeite glass-ceramic and have a particle size range from 50 μm to 250 μm and are present in an amount of 20% to 30% by weight of the composite.