Microstructure Analysis and Low Temperature Degradation Resistance of Doped 3Y-TZP Ceramics for Hip Implant Application

Abstract

The effect of manganese oxide (MnO2) and aluminum oxide (Al2O3) addition of up to 1 wt% in yttria-stabilized tetragonal zirconia polycrystals (Y-TZP), sintered in air at 1450oC, was examined. The low temperature degradation resistance was observed by immersing the sample in Ringer solution at 37oC over a period of 8 weeks, whereby the weight loss and the SEM image of sample was analyzed to generate the degradation pattern of the sample. Additions of 0.6wt% Al2O3/ 0.4wt% MnO2 were found to be beneficial in retarding the ageing of the ceramics sample. Therefore the sample was deemed beneficial in the use of orthopedic applications.