D Almasi - PhD., Department of Manufacturing and Industrial Engineering, Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, Universiti TeknologiMalaysia, 81310 Johor Bahru, Johor, Malaysia.
S Izman - PhD., Department of Manufacturing and Industrial Engineering, Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, Universiti Teknologi Malaysia, 81310 Johor Bahru, Johor, Malaysia.
F Roozbahani - PhD., Faculty of Biosciences and Medical Engineering, Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM), 81310 Skudai, Johor, Malaysia.
M Sadeghi - PhD. Student, Faculty of Chemical Engineering, Universiti Teknologi Malaysia, 81310 Skudai, Johor, Malaysia.

The mechanical properties of coated layers are one of the important factors for the long-term success of medical implants. In our previous study, the bioactivity of poly ether ether ketone (PEEK) was enhanced through sulphonation treatment of the surface and deposition of hydroxyapatite crystalline particles on the surface. In this study, the mechanical properties of the porous treated layer and the effect of compression load on it were examined via nanoindentation test. The water contact angle and surface roughness were also measured. The results showed an increase in elastic modulus with a mean value from 0.46 GPa to 1.20 GPa, but the surface roughness and wettability decreased. Though the porous treated layer from our proposed technique was very compliant, simple compression would enhance the mechanical properties of the treated layer for suitable applications in vivo.

PEEK, Hydroxyapatite, Mechanical properties, Compression load, Scratch test, Nanoindentation