ARTIFICIAL JOINT MADE FROM ZIRCONIA-ALUMINA COMPOSITE CERAMIC

摘要

An artificial joint made from a zirconia-alumina composite ceramic which comprises a first bone member and a second bone member having one end which forms a joint portion by engaging slidingly with a part of the first bone member, wherein at least one of the first bone member and the second bone member is formed with a zirconia-alumina composite ceramic comprising a matrix phase comprised of zirconia particles and, dispersed therein, a second phase comprised of alumina particles, the zirconia particles containing ceria as a stabilizing agent in such an amount that the matrix phase is mainly composed of tetragonal zirconia, and the zirconia-alumina composite ceramic having an average particle diameter of 0.1 to 1 mu m, preferably 0.1 to 0.8 mu m, particularly preferably 0.1 to 0.65 mu m. The artificial joint can provide good motion of a joint with high reliability for a long period of time.