Ka. Mann et al., MIXED-MODE FRACTURE CHARACTERIZATION OF HYDROXYLAPATITE-TITANIUM ALLOY INTERFACE, Journal of applied biomaterials, 5(4), 1994, pp. 285-291
Cantilever beam and four-point bend specimen geometries were used to e
xperimentally determine the critical energy release rates for a plasma
sprayed hydroxylapatite-titanium alloy (HA-Ti alloy) interface. A loc
us of energy release rates as a function of crack tip phase angle was
determined where a 0 degrees phase angle represented tensile opening (
mode I) loading and a 90 degrees phase angle represented in-plane shea
r (mode II) loading. Energy release rates were found to increase subst
antially with an increase in phase angle. An energy release rate of 0.
108 N/mm was determined for a phase angle of 0 degrees (mode I). Energ
y release rates of 0.221, 0.686, and 1.212 N/mm were determined for ph
ase angles of 66 degrees, 69 degrees, and 72 degrees, respectively. Th
e experimental data was matched to a phenomenological model for which
crack propagation depended on mode I loading alone indicating that cra
ck propagation at the Ha-Ti alloy interface is dominated by the mode I
loading component. Therefore, regions of HA coated implants that expe
rience compressive or shear loading across the HA-Ti alloy interface m
ay be much less likely to debond than regions that experience tensile
loading. (C) 1994 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.