One of the characteristics particular to advanced ceramics is chemical inertia, which means the ability to withstand various types of chemical influences (liquid or gas), and also their inertness in the human body.
Description
Biocompatibility is the ability of a material to be accepted and perform in the biological environment in which it finds itself.
The ceramics most commonly used in physiological environments are alumina (> 99.5 % purity), yttria-stabilised zirconia, alumina-zirconia composites, hydroxyapatite (HAP), tricalcium phosphate (TCP), and also glass ceramics.
Furthermore, some of them are osteointegrated, which means that they can be assimilated during bone reconstruction (HAP, TCP and zirconia).
Application markets
Biocompatibility is of course related to the medical sector, where it has many applications: dental prosthetics, hip and knee replacements, treatment of heart failure (pacemakers, defibrillators, pumps), hearing implants, neurostimulation and neuromodulation systems, bone replacement materials.
Comparative table of properties
| Resistance to chemical corrosion | |
| Alumina (99,5%) | ++ |
| Alumina-zirconia composites (ZTA/ATZ) | +++ |
|
Zirconia MgO & Y-TZP |
+++ |
| Aluminium nitride | - |
| Sintered Silicon carbide | ++++ |
| Sintered silicon nitride | ++++ |
| Quartz | + |
| Glass-ceramics | + |
Acceptable: + ; Good: ++ ; Very good: +++
These values are for information only and do not constitute a contractual obligation.