ISSN: 1546-962X
Published Online: 10 May 2004
Page Count: 14

Validated Microstructural Assessment of Femoral Heads
Fischman, G
Consultant for Biomedical Applications of Materials, IL

(Received 15 September 2003; accepted 30 March 2004)

Abstract

The method developed and outlined in this paper, Validated Microstructural Assessment, can be used to better ensure that components are more consistent than the current single micrograph methods. This paper shows that predictable microstructural variances occur even in components with materials and processes that have been optimized for production. Further, it is demonstrated that by using this technique these variances can be evaluated to create a typing of this optimized material-component system. Results show that one micrograph is not sufficient to describe this component using the protocol designed for this analysis, but an appropriate micrographic sampling of five components is sufficient for such a description.

Keywords:
orthopedics, ceramics, microstructure, microstructural assessment, assessment, properties, quality assurance

Paper ID: JAI12199
DOI: 10.1520/JAI12199
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