The role of alumina-zirconia loading on the mechanical and biological properties of UHMWPE for biomedical applications

Different amounts of Alumina Toughened Zirconia (80-20 wt%) (ATZ) were dispersed in UHMWPE matrix with the purpose of obtaining a material easy to be processed, inexpensive, with suitable mechanical properties and good cells interaction. The UHMWPE/ATZ composites were prepared by using a homogenizer, followed by compression molding. All the composites show an increase in elastic modulus and hardness respect to neat UHMWPE. The composite with the lowest amount of ATZ (i.e. 2.5 wt%) also displays an increase of the yield stress. The biological behavior is not directly correlated neither to wettability nor to microroughness, while it seems that the distribution of ATZ filler plays an important role.