Experimental Characterization for Wear Rate of Silicon Carbide and Nickel-Base Alloy for Human Implants
Amrita Razdan1, M. F. Wani2
1Amrita Razdan, Department of Mechanical Engineering, National Institute of Technology, Srinagar, India.
2M. F. Wani, Associate Professor, Department of Mechanical Engineering, National Institute of Technology, Srinagar, India.
Manuscript received on March 22, 2014. | Revised Manuscript received on April 15, 2014. | Manuscript published on April 30, 2014. | PP: 365-367 | Volume-3, Issue-4, April 2014. | Retrieval Number: D3009043414/2013©BEIESP
Open Access | Ethics and Policies | Cite
© The Authors. Blue Eyes Intelligence Engineering and Sciences Publication (BEIESP). This is an open access article under the CC BY-NC-ND license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/)
Abstract: Among the available ceramic materials for load bearing bio-implant applications, silicon carbide is superior for its better biocompatibility, which can increase the longevity of prosthetic joints. The major cause of revision surgery and implant failure is Osteolysis (aseptic loosening of the prosthetic joint). The product of bearing wear, microscopic particulate debris in the joint space leads to implant loosening. Prosthetic joint mainly consists of acetabular cup, acetabular lining and femoral head. The best material for manufacturing acetabular cup is nickel –base alloy. For manufacturing acetabular lining and femoral head, silicon carbide is the best chosen material. The acetabular cup or knee cap is prone to catastrophic failures due to walking, stumbling etc. A sliding distance test was performed on polished surface of silicon carbide and nickel-base alloy (mirror- like finish, 1µm) by using Reciprocating Friction Monitor (Courtesy; National Institute of Technology, Srinagar) for the evaluation of wear coefficient by standard test procedures and equation outlined in ASTM F 603. The test was carried out in ambient temperature. The results obtained showed drastically reduced wear rates. The experiments on Reciprocating Friction Monitor for Silicon carbide and nickel –base alloy showed that the best choice for prosthetic joint replacement would be a combination of two materials; silicon carbide for femoral heads and acetabular lining, and nickel-base alloy for acetabular cup.
Keywords: Aseptic loosening, Nickel base alloy, Silicon Carbide, Total joint replacement, Wear rate.