Ceramic endoprosthesis components and processes for their production

An endoprosthesis component comprising:

• a ceramic material having an aluminium oxide component and a zirconium (di)oxide component, wherein the material comprises a gradient of the aluminium oxide and zirconium (di)oxide components.

A process for producing an endoprosthesis component comprising a ceramic material having an aluminium oxide component and a zirconium (di)oxide component, wherein the material has a gradient of the aluminium oxide and zirconium (di)oxide components, the process comprising:

• providing an endoprosthesis component comprising an open-pored, pre-sintered aluminium oxide matrix;
• infiltrating the endoprosthesis component with zirconium containing particles from at least one of a zirconium (di)oxide slip, a zirconium salt solution, a zirconium-containing sol or alcoholate, or a mixture of two or more of the above-mentioned solutions/liquids, wherein particles are generally <100 nm and are introduced into the open-pored aluminium oxide matrix.

A process for producing an endoprosthesis component comprising a ceramic material having an aluminium oxide component and a zirconium (di)oxide component, wherein the material has a gradient of the aluminium oxide and zirconium (di)oxide components, the process comprising:

• providing an endoprosthesis component comprising an open-pored, pre-sintered zirconium (di)oxide matrix stabilized with the addition of at least one of the rare earth oxides, alkaline-earth oxides, titanium oxide, chromium oxide or hafnium oxide or unstabilized;
• and
• infiltrating the endoprosthesis component with aluminium oxide particles in the size range of <100 nm, the particles comprising from 0 to 0.3 wt. % magnesium oxide.

A process for producing an endoprosthesis component comprising a ceramic material having an aluminium oxide component and a zirconium (di)oxide component, wherein the material has a gradient of the aluminium oxide and zirconium (di)oxide components, the process comprising:

• filling a compression mould at least partially continuously with a mixture of aluminium oxide and zirconium (di)oxide powders, the mixing ratio of aluminium oxide and zirconium (di)oxide being varied during the filling of the compression mould;
• and
• producing a moulding by pressing.