Ceramic material
Hardness, ageing resistance, wetting behavior in relating to water and high thermal conductivity are known characteristics of sintered molded bodies consisting of aluminum oxide; high strength and a high resistance to cracking, i.e., damage tolerance are known characteristics of sintered molded bodies consisting of zirconium oxide. These properties are combined in a material having a large fraction of aluminum oxide, zirconium oxide and optionally strontium aluminate.
1. An article of manufacture comprising a sintered ceramic, wherein the sintered ceramic comprises 24.0 to 25.5 wt. % ZrO 2 , 0.26 to 0.35 wt. % Cr 2 O 3 , 0.50 to 0.6 wt. % Y 2 O 3 , 0.70 to 0.85 wt. % SrO, and an amount of Al 2 O 3 to make up to 100 wt. %, wherein the article of manufacture is a medical device and has a 4-point flexural strength of ≧1000 MPa.
2. An article of manufacture according to claim 1 , containing 24.0 wt. % ZrO 2 .
3. An article of manufacture according to claim 2 , having a fracture toughness of K lc is ≧5.5 MPam 0.5 .
4. An article of manufacture according to claim 1 , having a fracture toughness of K lc is ≧5.5 MPam 0.5 .
5. An article of manufacture according to claim 1 , having a Weibull modulus of ≧7.
6. An article of manufacture according to claim 1 , having a hardness HV10 of ≧1740.
7. An article of manufacture according to claim 1 , having a density ED2000 of ≧4.360 g/cm 3 .
8. An article of manufacture according to claim 1 , wherein the sintered ceramic comprises 25.5 wt. % ZrO 2 .
9. An article of manufacture according to one of claim 1 , wherein the Al 2 O 3 forms a matrix, and the ZrO 2 is embedded in the matrix.
10. An article of manufacture according to claim 3 , comprising 25.5 wt. % ZrO 2 .
11. An article of manufacture according to claim 4 , comprising 25.5 wt. % ZrO 2 .
12. A method of making an article of manufacture according to claim 1 comprising molding a green material comprising 24.0 to 25.5 wt. % ZrO 2 , 0.26 to 0.35 wt. % Cr 2 O 3 , 0.50 to 0.6 wt. % Y 2 O 3 , 0.70 to 0.85 wt. % SrO, and Al 2 O 3 to make up to 100 wt. %,
molding the green material in a mold to form a molded ceramic material;
and sintering the molded green material to yield the sintered molding, wherein the sintered molding is in the shape of a medical device.
13. An article of manufacture according to claim 1 , wherein the medical device is an orthotic or an endoprosthesis.
14. An article of manufacture according to claim 1 , wherein the medical device is an hip or knee joint implant.
15. An article of manufacture according to claim 1 , wherein the medical device is an orthotic.
16. An article of manufacture according to claim 1 , wherein the medical device is an endoprosthesis.
17. An article of manufacture according to claim 1 , wherein the medical device is a knee joint implant.
18. An article of manufacture according to claim 17 , wherein the ceramic material comprises 24.0 wt % ZrO 2 .
19. An article of manufacture according to claim 17 , wherein the sintered ceramic material comprises 25.5 wt % ZrO 2 .
20. An article of manufacture according to claim 17 , wherein the sintered ceramic material comprises 0.35 wt. % Cr 2 O 3 .
21. An article of manufacture according to claim 1 , wherein the medical device is a hip implant.
22. A ceramic comprising:
from 24.0 to 25.5 wt. % ZrO 2 ;
from 0.26 to 0.35 wt. % Cr 2 O 3 ;
from 0.50 to 0.6 wt. % Y 2 O 3 ;
from 0.70 to 0.85 wt. % SrO; and
from 72.65 to 74.54 wt. % Al 2 O 3 , wherein the ceramic is sintered and has a 4-point flexural strength of ≧1000 MPa.