Table 3.
Biomedical composites
| Implant | Dispersed phase/matrix phase | Used clinically? | References |
|---|---|---|---|
| Acetabular cups | CF/UHMWPE, UHMWPE/UHMWPE | No | 32, 115, 116 |
| Articular surfaces in joint applications | CF/UHMWPE, CF/PMMA, CF/PS, CF/epoxy | No | 32, 117 |
| Bone plates | CF/epoxy, CF/PMMA, CF/PP, CF/PS, CF/PE, CF/nylon, CF/PBT, CF/PEEK, CF/PLA*, glass fibers/epoxy | Yes, in part | 32, 118, 119, 120, 121, 122, 123, 124 |
| Bone grafts | Bioglass/PS, HA/PE, HA/PEG, HA/PBT, HA/PLLA, HA/PHB, CS/PEEK | Yes, in part | 32, 124, 125, 126 |
| Dental composites | Quartz, barium glass, or colloidal silica as fillers in BIS-GMA or urethane dimethacrylate matrices | Yes | 32 |
| Dental posts | Glass fibers/polyester, unidirectional carbon fiber/epoxy, braided CF/epoxy | No | 32, 127 |
| Hip stems | CF/PS, CF/carbon, CF/epoxy, CF/PEEK | Yes, in part | 32, 128, 117 |
| Intramedullary nails and screws | Glass fibers/PEEK, CF/Vectra A950, CF/PEEK, CF/PS, PLA/PLA, PGA/PGA, PLGA/PLGA | Yes, in part | 24, 32, 33, 129 |
| Lumbar interbody fusion | CF/PEEK, CF/PS | No | 32, 130, 131, 132 |
| Vascular grafts | Lycra-type PU fibers in a Pellathane-type PU/PELA mixture matrix | No | 32, 133 |
| Vertebral body replacement | Bioglass/PU | No | 32, 134, 135 |
| Vertebral disc replacement | PET/silicone rubber, PET/hydrogel | No | 32, 136, 137 |
*
Italicized materials denote those used clinically or currently undergoing clinical testing