Biocompatibility of medical implants is a long-sought goal of the physical sciences and medical research communities. This concept refers to a material’s capacity to induce a response adequate to a bone host. However, identifying materials which are fulfilling this requirement for a wide range of different applications is still an unresolved issue. In this paper, are analyzed the properties of TiMo20SixZr7Ta15 alloys with different ratios of Si (x=0; 0.5; 0.75;1.0) with possibilities of use for medical applications, using a set of complementary testing methods based on X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy coupled with energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy and resonant ultrasound spectroscopy (RUS). Across the compositions, the methods emphasize the mechanical properties of the sample, their microstructural characteristics, hardness and mechano-elastic properties, in order to establish a correlation between the structural parameters and mechanical properties of the sample, which are crucial in the understanding the feasibility of incorporating these alloys into prosthetics.
Zirconium oxide doped with rare earth elements (Y, Ce, etc.) is an important candidate material for incorporation in medical implants and prosthetics. Due to their mechanical properties, the doped compounds hold a unique place among the oxide ceramics since they can undergo phase transformations allowing a toughening mechanism. We aim to determine the influence of different types of thermal treatments for Zr1-xCexO2 (x=0.1; 0.15; 0.20) as well as the structural and mechanical properties of these materials using X-ray and Neutron Diffraction (ND) as well as high resolution of SEM imaging combined with Electron Backscattered Diffraction (EBSD). Our analyses have shown that, following the doping mechanism, the samples exhibit stable crystallographic structures but also improved material strengths, which can make these compounds suitable for a wide range of promising clinical applications.
The medical prosthesis components made from (ZrO2)-based ceramics present a good biocompatibility as well as especially mechanical properties. Much more, the problems of nondestructive evaluation for these elements, which assure both comfort and maximum safety to the patient, are imperative for these medical implants. In this study, we investigate the structure and the mechanical properties of Zr1-x(Ce/Y)xO2 , (x=0.0;0.09;0.13;0.17) materials as well as the modification of their crystallographic structure due to various thermal treatments and variation of Ce/Y concentrations in the samples. The substitution of Zr with Ce and the thermal treatment at 1000°C produced important transformation in the phase composition and the microstructure of the sample. A large decrease of the microstrains was observed at the treated samples. Combining characterization techniques based on XRD and ND with non-destructive evaluation methods based on Resonant Ultrasound Spectroscopy (RUS) and Acoustic Emission (AE), we emphasize a unique approach on evaluating the physical properties of these ceramics. Performed evaluation tests of Zr1-x(Ce/Y)xO2 ceramics have shown big influence of composition on their fracture behavior and resulting strength due to different damage mechanisms.
Zirconia (ZrO2)-based ceramics are preferred due to their advanced mechanical properties such as high-fracture toughness and bulk modulus, corrosion resistance, high dielectric constant, chemical inertness, low chemical conductivity and biocompatibility. The medical prosthesis components made from ZrO2 oxides present a very good biocompatibility as well as especially mechanical properties. In order to ensure implant safety of these prostheses, wide ranges of examinations based on nondestructive testing are imperative for these medical implants. In this study, we aim to emphasize the improvement of Zr-based ceramics properties as a function of addition of Ce ions in the structure of the original ceramics. The substitution of the Zr with Ce in the Zr1-xCexO2 compounds, where x = 0.0–0.17, leads to a change of the phase composition, a gradual transition from the monoclinic to tetragonal structure, at room temperature. The structural investigations proposed in this paper are based on X-ray and neutron diffraction in order to establish a first indication of the variation of the phase composition and the structural parameters, as well as micro-hardness measurements and nondestructive evaluations in order to establish a correlation between the structural parameters and mechanical properties of the samples. These ranges of tests are imperative in order to ensure the safety and reliability of these composite materials, which are widely used as hip-implants or dental implants/coatings. In combination of Resonant Ultrasound Spectroscopy, which makes use of the resonance frequencies corresponding to the normal vibrational modes of a solid in order to evaluate the elastic constants of the materials, we emphasize a unique approach on evaluating the physical properties of these ceramics, which could help in advancing the understanding of properties and applications in medical fields.
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