Reliability assessment in advanced nanocomposite materials for orthopaedic applications

TL;DR

This study evaluates the wear, crack resistance, aging, and load-to-failure of alumina-zirconia nanocomposite materials for orthopedic femoral heads, supporting their potential for reliable use in joint replacements.

Contribution

It provides comprehensive reliability data on alumina-zirconia nanocomposites, including wear, crack resistance, and aging behavior, advancing their development for orthopedic applications.

Findings

High crack resistance compared to other ceramics

Low wear rate after 7 million cycles

Good aging resistance and load-to-failure performance

Abstract

Alumina-zirconia nano-composites were recently developed as alternative bearing materials for orthopedics. Previous, preliminary reports show that such alumina-zirconia nanocomposites exhibit high crack resistance and low wear rate. In this paper, additional information is given in terms of wear, crack resistance and ageing behaviour: femoral heads are inspected after 7 million cycles of wear testing on a hip simulator, crack resistance is measured and compared to other ceramics used today in orthopedics, slow crack growth is reported under static and cyclic fatigue, and aging resistance is assessed. We also report on the load to failure of femoral heads prototypes during compression tests. This overall reliability assessment ensures a potential future development for these kinds of new nanocomposites in the orthopedic field.