LONG-TERM COMPRESSIVE PROPERTY DURABILITY OF CARBON-FIBER-REINFORCED POLYETHERETHERKETONE COMPOSITE IN PHYSIOLOGICAL SALINE

In total hip arthroplasty, concerns such as corrosion and stress shiel ding associated with stiff metallic femoral components have led to the development of low stiffness advanced fibre-reinforced polymer (FRP) composite femoral components. Carbon fibre-reinforced polyetheretherke tone (CF/PEEK) composite material is now one of the primary material s ystems being considered for composite hip stem development. As a hip s tem, a composite material must be able to support a complex state of s tress in the in vivo environment without failure. Considering the load ing conditions of a hip stem (superimposed compression and bending), a nd the fact that FRP composites typically possess lower compressive th an tensile strength, the compressive behaviour of FRP composite become s very important for femoral component design. This paper presents an investigation of the long-term durability of 0 degrees and 90 degrees compressive strengths of CF/PEEK composite following physiological sal ine saturation. 0 degrees and 90 degrees compressive moduli and Poisso n ratio (nu(12)) properties are also reported. Samples were tested fol lowing conditioning in physiological saline at 37, 65 and 95 degrees C for time periods from 0 to 5000 h. Dry samples were tested as control s. Results show no significant loss in compressive property values of the saline-saturated or the dry control samples as a function of condi tioning time or temperature.