Table 8.

Properties and biomedical applications of various ceramic reinforcement materials [40,295,296].

Type	Properties	Applications
Alumina (Al2O3)	Excellent abrasion resistance and compressive strength. Bioinert.	Femoral head, knee prosthesis, bone screws and plates, and permeable coatings for stems.
Zirconia (ZrO2)	High fracture toughness and flexural strength, but low Young's modulus. Bioinert and biocompatible.	Artificial knees, bone screws and plates etc.
Bioglass	Biocompatible, bioactive and nontoxic. Poor ductility.	Wound healing, cochlear implants, and peripheral nerve, spinal cord and ligament repair.
Hydroxyapatite (HA)	Bioresorbable, bioactive and biocompatible; Composition and properties closer to natural bone.	Femoral knee, femoral hip, tibial components, acetabular cup.
Tri-calcium phosphate (β-TCP)	Bioresorbable, bioactive and biocompatible; Similar composition to natural bone and good osteoconductive.	Femoral knee, hip prostheses, tibial components, bone plates and screws and cardiovascular stents.