The mechanical characterization of dioscorea alata and plectranthus rotundifolius starch-HA composite

The scaffolds made of starch-hydroxyapatite (HA) were fabricated by using solvent casting method and particulate leaching technique. The starches originated from Malaysian tubers which were Dioscorea alata (purple yam) and Plectranthus rotundifolius (Chinese potato). A composite were prepared by adding different weight of HA and of starch powder together with 20 ml of distilled water. The 50%, 60%, and 70% concentrations of starch-HA were prepared in this study. After the fabrication process, the effect of the starch-HA composites were investigated. The microstructures and the morphology of the composite scaffold were observed using SEM and the mechanical properties (Young’s modulus) of the scaffold is obtained by performing compressive test on the scaffolds. The results shows that the mechanical strength of Plectranthus rotundifolius is stronger compared to Dioscorea alata with the Young’s modulus of (70% starch in the composite) is 15.55 MPa for Dioscorea alata and 18.81 MPa for Plectranthus rotundifolius.