Simulator trials to determine the wear of the combination aluminium oxide ceramic-carbon fibre reinforced plastic (CFRP) used as an insert in a hip socket

Hip simulator trials were conducted to determine the initial wear between a lumina femoral heads and carbon fibre reinforced plastic (CFRP, CAPROMAN) i nsert in a titanium socket. A force of 2500 N and a frequency of 0.857 H we re applied. Using surface and sphericity measurement techniques, the amount of wear was determined. After 500,000 cycles, the centre of the head had m oved by 10 mu m into the insert, and the average radius increased by 2 mu m After 1 million cycles, the additional changes were less than 1 mu m. Base d on an examination of retrieved implants (wear rate: 6.1 mu m/year) and ba sed on the simulator results, the combination alumina-CFRP inserts could be approved for total hip replacement.