Tribological investigations of the wear couple alumina–CFRP for total hip replacement

Wear debris is the main reason for aseptic loosening in total hip. Most troublesome is the wear of polyethylene cups. Ceramic femoral heads were introduced about 20 years ago. The combination ceramic-on-polyethylene reduces the wear rate and the loosening rate. But cups of polyethylene are still the weakest link in a hip prosthesis. Carbon fibre reinforced plastic (CFRP) was proposed as an alternative for polyethylene. Various test were performed to study the combination metal-on-CFRP, zirconia-on-CFRP, and alumina-on-CFRP. The simulator tests showed that the wear rate of alumina-on-CFRP is in the order of 1–3 μm per year. Based on investigation of retrieved implants the wear rate is 6.3 μm per year. Based on these results the combination alumina femoral heads (Biolox®-forte) and CFRP cups (Caproman®) could be approved for total hip replacement.