M. S. Uddin

Surface treatments for controlling corrosion rate of biodegradable Mg and Mg-based alloy implants

Abstract Due to their excellent biodegradability characteristics, Mg and Mg-based alloys have become an emerging material in biomedical implants, notably for repair of bone as well as coronary arterial stents. However, the main problem with Mg-based alloys is their rapid corrosion in aggressive environments such as human bodily fluids. Previously, many approaches such as control of alloying materials, composition and surface treatments, have been attempted to regulate the corrosion rate. This article presents a comprehensive review of recent research focusing on surface treatment techniques utilised to control the corrosion rate and surface integrity of Mg-based alloys in both in vitro and in vivo environments. Surface treatments generally involve the controlled deposition of thin film coatings using various coating processes, and mechanical surfacing such as machining, deep rolling or low plasticity burnishing. The aim is to either make a protective thin layer of a material or to change the micro-structure and mechanical properties at the surface and sub-surface levels, which will prevent rapid corrosion and thus delay the degradation of the alloys. We have organised the review of past works on coatings by categorising the coatings into two classes—conversion and deposition coatings—while works on mechanical treatments are reviewed based on the tool-based processes which affect the sub-surface microstructure and mechanical properties of the material. Various types of coatings and their processing techniques under two classes of coating and mechanical treatment approaches have been analysed and discussed to investigate their impact on the corrosion performance, biomechanical integrity, biocompatibility and cell viability. Potential challenges and future directions in designing and developing the improved biodegradable Mg/Mg-based alloy implants were addressed and discussed. The literature reveals that no solutions are yet complete and hence new and innovative approaches are required to leverage the benefit of Mg-based alloys. Hybrid treatments combining innovative biomimetic coating and mechanical processing would be regarded as a potentially promising way to tackle the corrosion problem. Synergetic cutting-burnishing integrated with cryogenic cooling may be another encouraging approach in this regard. More studies focusing on rigorous testing, evaluation and characterisation are needed to assess the efficacy of the methods.

Numerical study and topology optimization of 1D periodic bimaterial phononic crystal plates for bandgaps of low order Lamb waves

The optimum topology of bimaterial phononic crystal (PhCr) plates with one-dimensional (1D) periodicity to attain maximum relative bandgap width of low order Lamb waves is computationally investigated. The evolution of optimized topology with respect to filling fraction of constituents, alternatively stiff scattering inclusion, is explored. The underlying idea is to develop PhCr plate structures with high specific bandgap efficiency at particular filling fraction, or further with multiscale functionality through gradient of optimized PhCr unitcell all over the lattice array. Multiobjective genetic algorithm (GA) is employed in this research in conjunction with finite element method (FEM) for topology optimization of silicon-tungsten PhCr plate unitcells. A specialized FEM model is developed and verified for dispersion analysis of plate waves and calculation of modal response. Modal band structure of regular PhCr plate unitcells with centric scattering layer is studied as a function of aspect ratio and filling fraction. Topology optimization is then carried out for a few aspect ratios, with and without prescribed symmetry, over various filling fractions. The efficiency of obtained solutions is verified as compared to corresponding regular centric PhCr plate unitcells. Moreover, being inspired by the obtained optimum topologies, definite and easy to produce topologies are proposed with enhanced bandgap efficiency as compared to centric unitcells. Finally a few cases are introduced to evaluate the frequency response of finite PhCr plate structures produced by achieved topologies and also to confirm the reliability of calculated modal band structures. Cases made by consecutive unitcells of different filling fraction are examined in order to attest the bandgap efficiency and multiscale functionality of such graded PhCr plate structures.

Optimal design of tunable phononic bandgap plates under equibiaxial stretch

Design and application of phononic crystal (PhCr) acoustic metamaterials has been a topic with tremendous growth of interest in the last decade due to their promising capabilities to manipulate acoustic and elastodynamic waves. Phononic controllability of waves through a particular PhCr is limited only to the spectrums located within its fixed bandgap frequency. Hence the ability to tune a PhCr is desired to add functionality over its variable bandgap frequency or for switchability. Deformation induced bandgap tunability of elastomeric PhCr solids and plates with prescribed topology have been studied by other researchers. Principally the internal stress state and distorted geometry of a deformed phononic crystal plate (PhP) changes its effective stiffness and leads to deformation induced tunability of resultant modal band structure. Thus the microstructural topology of a PhP can be altered so that specific tunability features are met through prescribed deformation. In the present study novel tunable PhPs of this kind with optimized bandgap efficiency-tunability of guided waves are computationally explored and evaluated. Low loss transmission of guided waves throughout thin walled structures makes them ideal for fabrication of low loss ultrasound devices and structural health monitoring purposes. Various tunability targets are defined to enhance or degrade complete bandgaps of plate waves through macroscopic tensile deformation. Elastomeric hyperelastic material is considered which enables recoverable micromechanical deformation under tuning finite stretch. Phononic tunability through stable deformation of phononic lattice is specifically required and so any topology showing buckling instability under assumed deformation is disregarded. Nondominated sorting genetic algorithm (GA) NSGA-II is adopted for evolutionary multiobjective topology optimization of hypothesized tunable PhP with square symmetric unit-cell and relevant topologies are analyzed through finite element method. Following earlier studies by the authors, specialized GA algorithm, topology mapping, assessment and analysis techniques are employed to get feasible porous topologies of assumed thick PhP, efficiently.

Wear Measurement and Assessment of Explanted Cross-Linked PE Acetabular Cups Using a CMM

Wear has been considered the main limiting factor in the longevity of hip replacements. Wear analysis is thus essential for determining wear-related failure mechanisms and prediction of wear, which will consequently enable biomedical engineers to improve the design, material, and service life of the bearing components. This article presents wear measurement and assessment of the explanted conventional cross-linked polyethylene (XPE) and second-generation highly cross-linked polyethylene cups (X3) using a coordinate measuring machine (CMM). An expanded uncertainty analysis was performed to assess the performance of wear measurement. Wear measurement using the CMM method was validated with the gravimetric technique. The normalized error between volumetric wear measurement of the CMM method and that of the gravimetric technique was estimated to be always less than 1, suggesting that the CMM method applied to explanted hip wear measurements under the specific conditions was accurate and reliable. The approach to CMM measurement with uncertainty analysis was shown not only to locate 3D wear scar and wear direction but also to accurately quantify linear and volumetric wear with a maximum volumetric uncertainty of ±3.15 mm3 (95% confidence level). It is shown that identifying the key uncertainty components involved in the measurement process including validation, which contributes to an overall expanded uncertainty budget, is crucial to improve the confidence and the reliability of hip wear measurement results using a CMM.

Contact of dual mobility implants: effects of cup wear and inclination

Cup wear and inclination on the pelvic bone are significant factors, which change the contact of the articulating surfaces, thus, impacting the long-term performance of hip implants. This paper presents a finite element (FE) analysis of the contact of the dual mobility implants under the influence of cup wear and inclination. A 3D FE model of the implant was developed with the application of equivalent physiological loading and boundary conditions. Effects of cup inclination angle ranging from 45° to 60° and the wear depth ranging from 0 to 2.46 mm equivalent to up to 30 years of the implants life on the contact pressure and von Mises stress were investigated. Simulation results show that the contact pressure and von Mises stress decrease significantly with a modest wear depth and remains quite in-sensitive to the cup inclination angle and wear depth up to 1.64 mm. With wear depth further up to 2.46 mm, the cup thickness (i.e. cup thinning on worn region) may be more predominant than increasing of contact area between the cup and the head. The wear on the inner surface of the cup is found to rule out the overall contact pressure and stress in the implant. Furthermore, individual and combined effects of both important parameters are analysed and discussed with respect to available clinical/laboratory studies.

Influence of bearing geometry and material on the contact of dual mobility implants: a finite element analysis

This paper aims to predict the contact mechanics with the effect of critical geometric parameters and bearing materials of a dual mobility implant. A 3D finite element model was constructed by incorporating implant’s anatomical configuration. Effects of radial clearance, head radius, cup thickness, shell thickness, and interfacial friction on contact pressure at articulating interfaces and von Mises stress within the cup were investigated. Influence of head material on the contact was studied as well. Simulations showed that contact pressure and stress decreased with the decrease in radial clearance and the increase in head radius, while the cup and shell thicknesses revealed a negligible influence. The contact was found to be insensitive to the head material. The contact pressure at the primary interface ruled out the overall contact of the implant. Results were discussed with studies available in literature, providing a guideline to further improve the design of the implants.

DIFFUSION OF CHEMICALLY REACTIVE SPECIES IN BOUNDARY LAYER FLOW OVER A POROUS PLATE IN POROUS MEDIUM

Analysis was made to study the effect of diffusion of chemically reactive species in boundary layer flow of an incompressible fluid over a porous flat plate in porous medium. The first-order chemical reaction was considered and the reaction rate of the reactive species was taken in such a manner that it varied inversely along the plate. Self-similar equations were obtained using similarity transformations and were then solved by the shooting technique using the fourth-order Runge-Kutta method. This analysis revealed that at a fixed point, with increase of the permeability of the porous medium the velocity increases, but the concentration decreases. The suction reduces the thicknesses of momentum and concentration boundary layers but due to blowing the thicknesses become larger. With increase of both the Schmidt number and the reaction rate parameter, the reactive concentration profiles decrease. For a destructive chemical reaction, the concentration profiles exhibit negative value when the Schmidt number is large. It is very significant to note that in some constructive chemical reaction cases the mass absorption at the plate occurs for small Schmidt number.

Bio-inspired low elastic biodegradable Mg-Zn-Mn-Si-HA alloy fabricated by spark plasma sintering

ABSTRACT In this paper, biodegradable low elastic Mg-Zn-Mn-Si-HA alloys have been synthesized by element-alloying assisted spark plasma sintering (SPS) process. The main concern of the current investigation is to study the influence of the key SPS-process variables, such as, alloying element, milling/alloying time, sintering temperature, and pressure on the porosity and elastic modulus of the fabricated alloys. Following an L27 OA-based on Taguchi method and accompanying the input parameters, a series of SPS experiments were carried out. Results indicated that sintering temperature and pressure were found to have a significant effect. The SEM observations showed that highest degree of porosity was observed at the lowest level of the parameters and the full dense compact was obtained at the highest level of the parameters. The alloying of HA and Si refined the grain structure and improved the brittleness of the composite. The SPS fabricated alloys exhibited an elastic modulus in the range between 16 and 38 GPa, that is proximate to bone and viably avoid stress-shielding. Moreover, various biocompatible phases, that is, CaMg, Mg-Si, Mn-CaO, Ca-Mn-O, and CaMgSi were observed in the alloy, which are expected to enhance its bioactivity and corrosion resistance. As-synthesized alloy would be considered potential biodegradable material for orthopedic applications.

Minimizing Stress Concentrations in the Femoral Heads of Hip Joint Prostheses: Effect of Borehole Shapes

This paper presents a stress analysis of the ceramic femoral heads of hip joint prostheses with different borehole shapes to evaluate their mechanical reliability in terms of stress concentration. Under the ideal loading conditions used for ceramic rupture tests specified by the ISO 7206-5 standard, a finite element (FE) modeling is performed to determine the tensile and hoop stress distributions in the ceramic femoral heads. Two borehole shapes that are currently used in the manufacturing industry for hip joint prostheses, namely the flat bottom and keyhole, were first studied. Two new borehole shapes, dome arc and dome ellipse, were then introduced by the authors in the paper to minimize the stress concentration. It was found that while the currently used borehole shapes lead to high tensile notch stresses at their critical corners causing possible fracture failure of ceramic heads, the authors’ borehole designs can improve the mechanical reliability significantly. In addition, the effects of taper-bore contact length and their interface friction are investigated and discussed.

Combined effect of cup abduction and anteversion angles on long-term wear evolution of PCD-on-PCD hip bearing couple

This paper presents a three-dimensional (3D) finite element (FE) modelling for the estimation of wear evolution on the acetabulum cup against the femoral head for the combinations of different abduction angle (35°, 45° and 55°) and anteversion angle (0°, 10°, 20°, 30° and 40°) for PCD-on-PCD hip bearing components. By implementing the actual physiological hip gait loading conditions and the rotational movement of a normal walking cycle in the FE model, the contact pressure and the sliding distance were calculated to predict the wear. The cup surface was updated in a suitable interval of gait cycles for the estimation of wear. Wear was simulated for 20 years implants life in a human body. Simulation results showed that higher abduction angle and lower anteversion angle result in the least linear and volumetric wear as compared to other conditions considered.