Examples include alumina-toughened zirconia (ATZ) and zirconia-toughened alumina (ZTA) ceramics. Both alumina and zirconia based oxides have long been used as biomaterials because of their superior wear resistance and their excellent biological behavior. The ceramic composite inherits hardness and wear resistance from alumina, but also fracture toughness from zirconia. Therefore, the composite material is intermediate between alumina and zirconia, which helps to achieve the properties of both materials in a single ceramic powder.
Use in orthopaedics
CeramTec's pink coloured BIOLOX®delta alumina matrix composite is a benchmark material in orthopedics, while zirconia-based materials are primarily used in dentistry.
For regulatory information see the disclaimer here
