Numerical and Experimental Assessment of Poly-Pyrrole Used in Spinal Cord Injuries

Some common conductive polymers are polyfuran, polyacetylene, polythiophene, and poly-pyrrole. Since their discovery, many researchers have been exploring and evaluating their conductive and electronic properties. Various applications have been developed for conductive materials. Their biocompatibility offers a new alternative for studying and solving complex problems, such as cellular activity, or, more recently, for use as neural implants and as an alternative to spinal cord regenerative tissue. This is particularly true for the use of poly pyrrole. The main obstacle lies in estimating some of the mechanical properties, such as Young's or shear modulus values for poly pyrrole, since these vary depending on the type of synthesis used. This article outlines a composite methodology for characterizing the elastic modulus according to ASTM D882 and the shear modulus according to E143 standards. It is specifically designed and applied for 3D composite samples involving PLA and PPy, where the PPy was processed by plasma oxidation. As a result, an increase of 360.11 MPa in the modulus of elasticity is observed on samples coated with poly pyrrole. The results are evaluated through a numerical test using COMSOL Multiphysics software 6.2 version, finding a similar behavior in the elastic zone, as indicated by the stress-strain diagram. The statistical analysis yields consistent data for tensile and shear results, with low to moderate variability.