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Alumina Composite: The Present Generation of Load Bearing Ceramics in Orthopedics

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Abstract

Alumina was selected as a biomaterial 40 years ago for its unsurpassed biological safety and stability in the living environment. The intrinsic properties of pure alumina limit its mechanical properties, especially toughness, then to improve medical grade alumina is a task that was actively pursued by ceramic manufacturers. A significant effort was devoted to the development of composites of the type zirconia toughened alumina (ZTA), a new class of ceramic biomaterials. The first ZTA material introduced in clinic was a composite known under the trade name of BIOLOX®delta. So far, BIOLOX®delta has 10 years of clinical records in hip replacements and is opening its way also in the knee, while other ceramic medical devices made out BIOLOX®delta are under development. This paper summarize the behavior of this ceramic biomaterial, and the characterization tests performed to assess its stability and its wear properties, as well as the outcomes of THR implants making use of BIOLOX®delta components.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Medical Division, BioConnect, Vieille-Toulouse, France

    Bernard Masson MScPh

  2. Oxide Development, CeramTec GmbH, Plochingen, Germany

    Meinhard Kuntz Dr-Ing

Authors
  1. Bernard Masson MScPh
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  2. Meinhard Kuntz Dr-Ing
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Bernard Masson MScPh .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Hôpital Nord, Aix-Marseille Université, Marseille CX 20, France

    Dominique G. Poitout

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Masson, B., Kuntz, M. (2016). Alumina Composite: The Present Generation of Load Bearing Ceramics in Orthopedics. In: Poitout, D. (eds) Biomechanics and Biomaterials in Orthopedics. Springer, London. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-84882-664-9_14

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-84882-664-9_14

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  • Publisher Name: Springer, London

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-84882-663-2

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-84882-664-9

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