Low wear rate of UHMWPE against zirconia ceramic (Y-PSZ) in comparison to alumina ceramic and SUS 316L alloy.

Partially stabilized zirconia ceramic is being recognized among ceramics for its high strength and toughness. With this ceramic, is possible to manufacture a 22-mm-size femoral head for low friction arthroplasty of the hip joint in association with an ultra-high-molecular-weight polyethylene socket. Wear-resistant properties of zirconia ceramic were screened on two principally different wear devices. Sterile calf bovine serum, physiological saline, and distilled water were chosen as the lubricant fluid media. Depending on the lubricant medium, the wear factor of polyethylene against zirconia ceramic counterfaces was 40 to 60% less than that against alumina ceramic counterfaces, and 5 to 10 times lower than with the SUS316L metal counterfaces. Polyethylene wear against metal was more susceptible in saline in which it had 2 to 3 times higher wear rate than with serum. On the other hand, different fluid media had little effect on polyethylene wear against ceramic counterfaces. In each set of tests, the wear factor obtained on an unidirectional wear device showed 10 to 15 times higher values, in comparison to the wear factor estimated on a reciprocating wear device.