Bioceramics

Bioceramics are ceramics that are used in biomedical applications; ranging from medical implants to biomedical pumps. For example:

Y-TZP endoscopic components	Y-TZP pace maker covers

Over the last twenty years there has been a considerable increase in the use of ceramic materials for implant devices.

With an excellent combination of strength and toughness together with bio-inert properties and low wear rates, Y-TZP is now displacing alumina in applications such as femoral heads for total hip replacements.

The zirconia heads display double the strength of comparable alumina heads and consequently the diameter of the femoral head can be reduced to < 26mm, leading to a reduction in patient trauma during the hip replacement operation.

Other applications which could benefit from a zirconia implant include knee joints, shoulders, phalangeal joints and spinal implants.