A scanning electron microscopy study of the interface between ceramics and bone.

By use of scanning electron microscopy (SEM), together with energy dispersive chemical analysis, a study has been made of the comparison of an in vitro method of assessing interface reactions between bone and ceramic implants with the naturally occurring changes seen in the rat ear model. Interface reactions between bone and two ceramic materials were examined following 4 wk in culture and 4 wk implantation. In both cases a gradual chemical change occurred at the calcium silicate surface during the fibrous growth onto the ceramic material. Gradual mineralization of the connective fibres was found at the interface of the calcium silicate material, whereas, in the case of alumina ceramic a connective fibrous bond had formed with no associated chemical change at the ceramic surface.