STANDARDIZATION OF ZIRCONIA CERAMICS FOR TOTAL HIP REPLACEMENTS

Bioceramics are used in a wide range of different clinical application s, the most important being femoral heads in total hip replacement. Be cause of their very attractive mechanical properties, zirconia ceramic s (ZrO2) have recently been used as implant material. At the present t ime, two medical-grade types of zirconia are available: Mg-PSZ and Y-T ZP. For the Y-TZP, an international standard (ISO) was issued. The sta ndard is discussed, and the properties that are of importance in the f ield of orthopaedics are identified.