2.79J/3.96J/BE.441/HST522J
MATERIALS:
BONDING AND PROPERTIES
M. Spector, Ph.D.
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Harvard Medical School
Brigham and Women’s/Massachusetts General Hosp.
VA Boston Healthcare System
CHEMICAL BONDING
Primary
? Metallic 100 kcal/mol
? Covalent 200
? Ionic 10-20
Secondary
? van der Waals 1-2
? Hydrogen 3-7
? Hydrophobic 1-2
Interactions
MATERIALS WITH PRIMARY
ATOMIC BONDS
+ + +
+ + +
_ _
_ _
Metallic
(electron “glue”
or “cloud”)
-metals
-100 kcal/mol
C C C C
H H H H
H H H H
Ionic
(attraction
of positive
and negative ions)
-ceramics
-calcium phosphates
-10-20 kcal/mol
Covalent
(shared- pair electrons)
-polymers
-biological macromolec.
(e.g., proteins)
-200 kcal/mol
M
M
M
M
M
M
e
-
e
-
e
-
e
-
e
-
e
-
e
-
e
-
e
-
e
-
e
-
e
-
e
-
e
-
COMPOSITION OF METALS (%)
Stainless Steel Cobalt Chromium Titanium
Fe Co Ti
Cr (17-20%) Cr (27-30) Al (5.5-6.5)
Ni (10-17) Mo (5-7) V (3.5-4.5)
Mo (2-4) Ni (2.5) Fe,C,O (0.5)
C (0.03) Fe, C, Mn, Si (<3.1)
Mn, P, S, Si (<2.8)
METALS
M
M
M
M
M
M
e
-
e
-
e
-
e
-
e
-
e
-
e
-
e
-
e
-
e
-
e
-
e
-
e
-
e
-
M M
e
-
e
-
e
-
Fracture surface
METAL SURFACE
M
M
M
M
M
M
e
-
e
-
e
-
e
-
e
-
e
-
e
-
e
-
e
-
e
-
e
-
e
-
e
-
e
-
Free surface
Electropositive
FORMATION OF METALLIC
OXIDE
M
M
M
M
M
M
e
-
e
-
e
-
e
-
e
-
e
-
e
-
e
-
e
-
e
-
e
-
e
-
e
-
e
-
Surface
O
=
O
=
O
=
THE METALLIC OXIDE
(CERAMIC) SURFACE OF METALS
Metal
Oxide
10nm-10μm
ORTHOPAEDIC METALS
ADVANTAGES DISADVANTAGES
Stainless Strength Potential for corrosion
Steel Ease of manuf. High mod. of elasticity
Availability
Cobalt- Strength High mod. of elasticity
Chromium Rel. wear resist.
Titanium Strength Poor wear resistance
Low modulus
Corrosion resist.
METALS FOR TJA:
PAST, PRESENT, AND FUTURE
1900-1940 1940-1960 1970 1980 1990 2000 2010
?
?
Stainless Steel
?
?
Cobalt-Chromium Alloy
?
?
Titanium
?
?
Oxinium
Oxinium? (Smith &Nephew Orthopaedics; oxidized
zirconium) is the first new metal alloy in orthopaedic
surgery in 30 years.
METALS FOR TJA:
PAST, PRESENT, AND FUTURE
1900-1940 1940-1960 1970 1980 1990 2000 2010
?
?
Stainless Steel
?
?
Cobalt-Chromium Alloy
?
?
Titanium
?
?
Oxinium
Selection Criteria
?
? Inertness/Biocompatibility
?
?
Strength
?
?
Lower Modulus
?
?
Scratch-resist.
?
?
Lubricatious
?
?
Non-Allergen.
ORTHOPAEDIC METALS
ADVANTAGES DISADVANTAGES
Stainless Strength Potential for corrosion
Steel Ease of manuf. High mod. of elasticity
Availability
Cobalt- Strength High mod. of elasticity
Chromium Rel. wear resist.
Titanium Strength Poor wear resistance
Low modulus
Corrosion resist.
Oxinium Scratch-resist. ?
Low modulus
Oxinium
ASTM B550
Zr
Nb (2.5%)
Composition of Orthopaedic Metals
Metal Substrate
How is the Ceramic Surface Produced on
Oxinium?: Oxidation Process
? Wrought zirconium alloy device is heated in air.
? Metal transforms as oxide grows; not a coating.
? Zirconium Oxide (Zirconia ceramic) is ~5 μm thick.
Oxygen Enriched Metal
Original Surface
Air
500
o
C
Oxygen
Diffusion
Ceramic Oxide
Oxygen Enriched Metal
Zirconium metal alloy is heated in air
Oxygen diffuses into the metal surface
Surface becomes enriched in oxygen
Surface transforms to ceramic oxide
G. Hunter, S&N
Co-Cr ALLOY VERSUS Zr-Nb ALLOY:
THICKNESS OF THE OXIDE
Co-Cr alloy
Chromium oxide 0.01 μm
500 times thicker
Zr-Nb alloy
5 μmZirconium oxide
Ceramic
Metal
Oxinium
Fatigue Testing of Oxinium Femoral Components
? Fatigue strength the same as for Co-Cr devices.
? Supports 4.4 kN (1000 lbf) in 10 Mcycle fatigue test.
? Tested worst-case: thin condyle, no bone, full flexion.
*Tsai et al., SFB 2001
Image removed due to copyright considerations.
ADVANTAGES OF OXINIUM
Weds the best of a ceramic
with the best of a metal.
? Scratch resistant: less abrasive wear of PE
? More lubricatious: lower friction may result in
less adhesive wear of PE; better patella
articulation
? Much lower modulus than Co-Cr alloy (similar to
Ti): lower stiffness and less stress shielding
? Non-allergenic
WEAR PROCESSES
Adhesive wear
particle adherent
to metal
Abrasive
plowing wear
Crack propagated by cyclic
loading results in fatigue
(delamination) wear
PE
Component
Metal
Asperity
WEAR PROCESSES
Abrasive
wear
PE
Component
Metal
Asperity
Solution is a scratch-resistant
metal/ceramic counterface;
X-linked PE may not be the solution
? Profound effect of a single scratch; wear due
to the ridge of metal bordering an scratch
EFFECT OF A SINGLE SCRATCH
ON PE WEAR
10-fold increase in
PE wear when the
ridge bordering the
scratch exceeded
2μm in height
(This type of
scratch is not
noticeable by eye.)
No PE wear if the
metal ridge is
removed
Dowson, et al., Wear (1987)
Image removed due to
copyright considerations.
100 μm
50 μm
Scratches on Retrieved Co-Cr Femoral Condyles
Scanning Electron Microscopy
Ant-
-post
movement
Ridge of metal
Ridge of metal
>2μm
SOURCES OF PARTICLES THAT
CAUSE SCRATCHES ON CONDYLES
? Bone
? PMMA (bone cement)
? Wear and corrosion products from
modular junctions
? Prosthetic coatings (viz., plasma
sprayed Ti)
Is ceramic-on-PE the answer ?
Alumina or
zirconia heads
Image removed due to copyright considerations.
IF CERAMIC IS THE ANSWER
How to obtain the benefit of ceramic-on-PE
articulation in TKA? Bulk ceramics do not have
the necessary mechanical properties for TKA.
Answer:
A new metal alloy, zirconium niobium (Oxinium),
the surface of which can be oxidized to form
zirconium oxide (zirconia), a durable scratch-
resistant ceramic.
Oxinium
? May be a more innovative a development than cross-linked PE.
? One of only 2 materials developed principally for TJA (the other
is hydroxyapatite).
Image removed due to copyright considerations.
CHARACTERISTICS OF OXIDES THAT
AFFECT THEIR PERFORMANCE
? Thickness
? Adherence to metal substrate
? Porosity/density/strength of the
oxide
Oxide (Ceramic)
Metal
Co-Cr ALLOY VERSUS Zr-Nb ALLOY
THICKNESS OF THE OXIDE
Co-Cr
Chromium oxide 0.01 μm
500 times thicker
Zr-Nb
5 μmZirconium oxide
Ceramic
Metal
Chromium
Oxide
layer
COMPARISON OF THE OXIDE
THICKNESSES ON Co-Cr AND Zr-Nb
2 μm
Co-Cr Alloy
Zr-Nb Alloy
Zirconium
Oxide
layer
0.01 μm
thick
5 μm
thick
Typical scratch
in the Co-Cr
surface
Thicker oxide layer (500x thicker)
to protect against scratches.
Interface
between oxide
and metal:
-no voids
-no
imperfections
Prof. L.W. Hobbs,
MIT
Zirconium oxide
Zirconium
metal
ADHERENCE OF Zr OXIDE
TO THE METAL
Cr
2
0
3
Zr0
2
thickness
V Benezra, et al.
MRS Symp., 1999
Transmission
Electron
Microscopy
Image removed due to copyright considerations.
Zirconium oxide
Zirconium
metal
STRENGTH OF Zr OXIDE
V Benezra, et al.
MRS Symp., 1999
“Brick Wall
Tough”
Rectangular
crystals of
Zr0
2
Transmission
Electron
Microscopy
Image removed due to copyright considerations.
-10
0
10
20
30
0246
Number of Cycles (millions)
M
e
an Ti
bi
al
W
e
ar
(
m
m
3
)
Cast CoCrMo
Oxidized Zr-
Smith & Nephew Orthopaedics
Wear of PE with OxZr versus CoCr Condyles
Knee Simulator Study
WEAR PROCESSES
Materials Issues
Adhesive
Abrasive
PE
Metal
Fatigue (delamination) wear
WEAR PROCESSES
Materials Issues
Adhesive
Abrasive
PE
Metal
Fatigue (delamination) wear
What is missing from this picture?
Adhesive
Abrasive
PE
Metal
Joint Fluid*
Fatigue (delamination) wear
* What role does the joint fluid play in the tribology of TJA?
WEAR PROCESSES
Materials Issues
WEAR IN TOTAL JOINT
ARTHROPLASTY
Tribology
? Lubrication
– Depends on amount, composition and
mechanical properties of joint fluid
? Friction
– Better the lubrication lower the friction
? Wear
– Lower the friction, less wear
Wear testing of a total
knee replacement
prostheses in a “knee
simulator.”
Bovine serum;
not water
How good a lubricant is
the patient’s joint fluid?
Image removed due to
copyright considerations.
Image removed due to
copyright considerations.
COMPOSITION AND MECHANICAL PROPERTIES
OF JOINT FLUID IN PRIMARY AND REVISION TKA
? Differences in certain compositional features and
certain mechanical properties of joint fluid from
revision cases when compared to the properties
of fluid from patients before TKA.
? How well can joint fluid lubricate TKA?
D. Mazzucco and M. Spector, J. Orthop. Res.
2002;20:1157-1163
D. Mazzucco, et al., Biomat., (In press)
z
COMPOSITION OF JOINT FLUID
Metal
Joint Fluid
Hyaluronic Acid
Protein
Phospholipid
PE
The amount and composition and properties of
joint fluid in TKA patients vary widely; this
could explain why some pts. have high wear.
Solution; Metal with lower friction even in
presence of abnormal joint fluid.
z
COMPOSITION OF JOINT FLUID
Metal
Joint Fluid
Hyaluronic Acid
Protein (Lubricin)
Phospholipid
PE
Two types of Lubrication:
?Fluid Film
?Boundary Layer
z
WEAR PROCESSES
Fluid Film Lubrication
Metal
Joint Fluid
Hyaluronic Acid, HA
Fluid Film Lubrication
;
surfaces separate – no friction and
no wear; due to viscosity of fluid
(HA conc. and MW), topography of
counterfaces, and velocity: TKA?
PE
z
WEAR PROCESSES
Fluid Film Lubrication
Metal
Joint Fluid
Hyaluronic Acid, HA
Fluid Film Lubrication
;
determine the patient’s fluid
viscosity (HA conc. and MW);
benefit of HA injection?
PE
z
WEAR PROCESSES
Boundary Layer Lubrication
Metal
Joint Fluid
Protein
Lipid
PE
Boundary Layer Lubrication;
protein and lipid adsorb to the surfaces to
decrease friction and reduce adhesive wear; can
contribute to reducing abrasive and fatigue wear
z
WEAR PROCESSES
Boundary Layer Lubrication
Metal
Joint Fluid
Protein
Lipid
PE
Boundary Layer Lubrication;
Determine the protein and lipid content of the joint
fluid; employ a metal counterface that will best
adsorb the lipid and protein; Oxinium
ADVANTAGES OF OXINIUM
Weds the best of a ceramic
with the best of a metal.
? Scratch resistant: less abrasive wear of PE
? Better lubricity than Co-Cr alloy: lower friction
may result in less adhesive wear of PE; better
patella articulation
? Much lower modulus than Co-Cr alloy (similar to
Ti): lower stiffness and less stress shielding
? Non-allergenic
WEAR IN TOTAL JOINT
ARTHROPLASTY
Tribology
? Lubrication
– Depends on amount, composition and
mechanical properties of joint fluid
? Friction
– Better the lubrication lower the friction
? Wear
– Lower the friction, less wear
FRICTION APPARATUS
Cantilever Arm
Ground
Strain Gauge
Dead Weight
Metal Disk
To Computer
PE Pin
Coef. of friction (μ)=lateral force/normal force
0
0.01
0.02
0.03
0.04
0.05
0.06
0.07
0.08
C
o
ef
f
i
ci
en
t
o
f
F
r
i
c
t
i
o
n
Co-Cr Alloy
Water Serum
0.063±0.004
0.054±0.002
14% dec.*
* Wear of PE in serum<
1
/
3
wear in water
Friction of Oxinium with PE versus Co-Cr
Mazzucco & Spector
ice-ice
AC-AC
0
0.01
0.02
0.03
0.04
0.05
0.06
0.07
0.08
C
o
ef
f
i
ci
en
t
o
f
F
r
i
c
t
i
o
n
Co-Cr Alloy Oxinium
Water Serum Serum
0.063±0.004
0.054±0.002
0.046±0.001
14% dec.* 15% dec.
* Wear of PE in serum<
1
/
3
wear in water
Friction of Oxinium with PE versus Co-Cr
Mazzucco & Spector
.03
.04
.05
.06
.07
.08
.09
.1
Dy
n
a
m
i
c
Co
e
f
.
a-
P
B
S
b-
Se
r
u
m
c-
H
A
-
l
ow
d-
H
A
-
h
i
g
h
e-
P
h
o
s
-
l
ow
f-P
h
o
s
-h
i
g
h
g-
P
r
ot
-
l
ow
h-
P
r
o
t
-
h
i
g
h
Lubricant
Ox-Zr
Co-Cr
Oxinium versus CoCr Alloy for All Lubricants
2-factor ANOVA; p<0.0001; power=1
Mazzucco & Spector
0.00
0.02
0.04
0.06
0.08
0.10
D
y
n
a
m
i
c
C
o
e
ffi
c
i
e
n
t o
f
F
r
i
c
ti
o
n
TKA
OA
Results: Joint Fluid Lubrication
Within each group, samples are arranged in the order they were obtained
Bars represent standard deviation
Serum
Water
3x difference in wear rate
Mazzucco & Spector
ADVANTAGES OF OXINIUM
Weds the best of a ceramic
with the best of a metal.
? Scratch resistant: less abrasive wear of PE
? More lubricatious: lower friction may result in
less adhesive wear of PE; better patella
articulation
? Much lower modulus than Co-Cr alloy (similar to
Ti): lower stiffness and less stress shielding
? Non-allergenic
Decrease in the Stress in the Distal Femur after TKA
due to the Stiffness of the Co-Cr Femoral Component:
Finite Element Analysis
M. Angelides, et al., Trans.
Orthop. Res. Soc., 13:475 (1988)
Image removed due to copyright considerations.
J.D. Bobyn, et al., Clin.
Orthop., 166:301 (1982)
Bone Loss due to Stress
Shielding under a
Femoral Component:
Canine Model
Image removed due to
copyright considerations.
RADIOGRAPHIC BONE LOSS AFTER TKA*
? Retrospective radiographic analysis of 147
TKAs.
– 3 designs
– Cemented and porous-coated, non-cemented
? Determination of whether bone loss was
evident in the post-op radiographs.
– 3 examiners
* Mintzer CM, Robertson DD, Rackemann S, Ewald FC, Scott RD, Spector
M. Bone loss in the distal anterior femur after total knee arthroplasty.
Clin Orthop. 260:135 (1990)
Bone Loss After TKA: Radiographic Study
A-P Radiograph
Lateral Radiograph
C.M. Mintzer, et al., Clin Orthop. 260:135 (1990)
Sites at which changes in
bone density was evaluated.
Image removed due to
copyright considerations.
Image removed due to
copyright considerations.
1 year post-op
Bone Loss Under the Femoral Component
of a Total Knee Replacement Prosthesis:
Stress Shielding
C.M. Mintzer, et al., Clin
Orthop. 260:135 (1990)
Image removed due to
copyright considerations.
Image removed due to
copyright considerations.
BONE LOSS UNDER THE FEMORAL
COMPONENT OF TKA
? Bone loss occurred in the majority of
cases (68% of patients).
? Bone loss occurred within the first post-
operative year and did not appear to
progress.
? Bone loss was independent of implant
design and mode of fixation (i.e., cemented
vs. non-cemented).
C.M. Mintzer, et al., Clin
Orthop. 260:135 (1990)
EFFECT OF BONE LOSS ON BONE
STRENGTH
How much bone loss needs to occur before it is
detectable in a radiograph?
? Radiographic evidence of bone loss in the distal
femur = 30% reduction in bone density.*
How does bone loss affect bone strength?
? Bone strength is proportional to density
2
.
? Therefore a 30% decrease in bone density means
a 50% decrease in bone strength.
*D.D. Robertson et al., J. Bone
Jt. Surg. 76-A:66 (1994)
BONE LOSS UNDER THE FEMORAL
COMPONENT OF TKA
Conclusion
? Bone loss occurs in the distal anterior
femur post-TKA due to stress shielding
related to the stiffness of the cobalt-
chromium alloy component
C.M. Mintzer, et al., Clin
Orthop. 260:135 (1990)
BONE LOSS DUE TO STRESS
SHIELDING
Potential Problems
? Complicates revision arthroplasty due to the
loss of bone stock.
? May place the prosthesis at risk for loosening.
? May place the distal femur at risk of fracture.
Solution
? Oxinium TKA.
– Oxinium has approximately ? the stiffness of
Co-Cr alloy, therefore there should be less stress
shielding and less bone loss.
ADVANTAGES OF OXINIUM
Weds the best of a ceramic
with the best of a metal.
? Scratch resistant: less abrasive wear of PE
? More lubricatious: lower friction may result in
less adhesive wear of PE; better patella
articulation
? Much lower modulus than Co-Cr alloy (similar to
Ti): lower stiffness and less stress shielding
? Non-allergenic
METAL SENSITIVITY IN PATIENTS
? 10-15% of population have dermal sensitivity to metal
(14% to Ni)
? Metals known as sensitizers:
– Ni > Co and Cr >>> Ti and V
? 60% of pts. with failed TJRs were metal sensitive vs.
25% with well-functioning implants
– Did metal sensitivity cause failure or did the failed
implant cause metal sensitivity?
Hallab, Merritt, Jacobs,
JBJS 83-A:428 (2001)
WHAT ARE CERAMICS?
? Compounds of metallic and nonmetallic (e.g.,
oxygen) elements.
? Ceramic materials:
Alumina (aluminum oxide)
Zirconia (zirconium oxide)
? Metal oxides on metallic materials:
Chromium oxide (on Stainless Steel and Co-Cr alloys)
Titanium oxide (on Titanium and Titanium alloy)
Zirconium oxide (on Zr-Nb alloy)
ADVANTAGES OF CERAMICS
? Dense/hard (scratch resistant)
Related to the character of the ionic bonding
? Ability to be polished to an ultra
smooth finish
CHARACTERISTICS OF OXIDES THAT
AFFECT THEIR PERFORMANCE
? Adherence to metal substrate
Related to the mismatch in bonding
(oxides comprise ionic and covalent
bonds in contrast to metallic bonds)
? Porosity/density
? Thickness
POLYMERS
Polyethylene C C
Polymethylmethacrylate C C
H H
H H
H CH
3
H COOCH
3
ORTHOPEDIC POLYMERS
ADVANTAGES DISADVANTAGES
UHMWPE Relatively high Subject to oxidation
wear resistance
PMMA Polymerization Low fatigue strength
in vivo (for load-bearing
applications)
Micrometer Level
Fusion defects due to incomplete
consolidation are cracks that can be
propagated by fatigue (delamination)
wear.
MOLECULAR STRUCTURE OF
POLYETHYLENE
ULTRAHIGH MOLECULAR
WEIGHT POLYETHYLENE
10-30nm
C C
H H
H H
Crystallites
Amorphous Region
“Tie” Molecules
MOLECULAR STRUCTURE OF
POLYETHYLENE
Nanometer Level
? “Tie” molecules bind PE crystallites
? Mechanical properties are related to the number
of tie molecules (fracture occurs through the
amorphous region comprised of tie molecules)
? Mechanical bonding between PE particles is due
to entanglement of molecular chains
? Reinforcing elements (e.g., fibers) added to PE
are only effective if PE bonds to them
Intrinsic Factors
? Molecular weight
distribution
? Cross-linking
? Crystallite size, shape,
and orientation
? Degree of crystallinity
? Number of tie
molecules
POLYETHYLENE WEAR
AND STRENGTH
“Tie” Molecules
Crystallites
10-30nm
EFFECT OF GAMMA RADIATION ON
PE: OXIDATION
C C
H
H H
Gamma Radiation
O
2
O
2
O
2
O
2
O
2
C C
H H
H H
O
2
O
GAMMA-RADIATION INDUCED
MODIFICATION OF POLYETHYLENE
C
C C C
C
C
Cross-linking
* Small peak in IR
**Large peak in IR
C C C
O
C C
O
Oxidation
Aldehyde*
from C-C
cleavage
Ketone**
from C-H
cleavage
from C-H
cleavage
From Sutula, Sperling, Collier, Saum, Williams. “Delamination and
White Band: Impact of Gamma Sterilization in Air and Material
Consolidation” AAOS 1995 Orlando
Image removed due to copyright considerations