Mechanical properties of silica/cellulose composites soaked in simulated body fluid

Abstract

Cellulose/silica composites were prepared by sol-gel method from solutions containing Si(OCH₃)₄ and acetyl cellulose, and the changes of their mechanical properties in a simulated body fluid (SBF) were examined. Both Young’s modulus and the bending strength decreased by soaking in SBF, while the strain at failure increase ; Young’s modulus and bending strength decreased from 2.6 to 1.6 GPa and from 85.8 to 35.0 MPa, respectively.