Production of bone implant filaments from blue crab shells (Portunus pelagicus) in various synthesis conditions and blending ratios of hydroxyapatite (HAp)-polycaprolactone (PCL)

Abstract The effect of calcination temperatures and KH 2 PO 4 concentrations on filament properties using the precipitation method was investigated. Moreover, the effect of optimum hydroxyapatite-polycaprolactone ratios was also elucidated. In this study, blue crab shells ( Portunus pelagicus ) waste was used to synthesis hydroxyapatite. The modification of composite production was done by adding polymer as filler to obtain stronger composites with suitable mechanical properties for a stronger bone implant. The filament production consists of several steps, i.e., raw material pretreatment, synthesis of hydroxyapatite using a precursor of KH 2 PO 4 with precipitation method, and synthesis of hydroxyapatite-polycaprolactone composites, and hydroxyapatite-polycaprolactone filament formation process using an extruder. It was found that the hydroxyapatite has been successfully synthesized from raw material of blue crab ( Portunus Pelagicus ) shells by calcination temperatures of 950°C and 1000°C. The highest calcium concentration in the raw material calcined from rajungan shells obtained from the XRF analysis was 94.96% at a temperature of 950°C. The FTIR analysis results showed a PO 4 3- group indicating hydroxyapatite content in the crab shells.