EME 2176

MATERIALS ENGINEERING

CHAPTER 7
Advanced/Modern Materials
 CLASSIFICATION OF MATERIALS
1) Metals
Composed of one or more metallic elements
(e.g. iron, aluminium and gold) and often
also nonmetallic elements (carbon, nitrogen
and oxygen) in relatively small amounts
2) Ceramics
Compounds between metallic and non
metallic elements
Most frequently oxides, nitrides and carbides
(e.g. aluminum oxide, silicon carbide and
glass)
3) Polymers
Plastic and rubber materials (e.g.
polyethylene)
4) Composites
Composed of two (or more) individual
materials from above 3 categories
 ADVANCED MATERIALS
Materials that are utilized in high-technology or advanced
applications

1. BIOMATERIALS
materials that are used and adapted for medical
applications.
2. SMART (INTELLIGENT) MATERIALS
A group of materials being developed that will have a
significant influence on many of our technologies.
smart implies that the material is able to sense
changes in their environment and then respond to
these changes in a predetermined manner.
3. NANOTECHNOLOGY
The study of the controlling of matter on an atomic
and molecular scale.
Developing new materials with dimensions on the
nanoscale.
One nanometer (nm) is one billionth, or 109, of a meter .
 7. 1 BIOMATERIALS
A biomaterial is any material, natural or man-
made, that comprises whole or part of a living
structure or biomedical device which performs,
augments, or replaces a natural function"
Can also be defined as a nonviable material
used in a medical device, intended to interact
with biological systems
Encompasses aspects of medicine, biology,
chemistry and materials science (engineering).
Rarely used as isolated materials but are
commonly integrated into devices or implants.
Biocompatibility The ability of a material to
perform with an appropriate host response in a
specific application.
Host Response The response of the host
organism (local and systemic) to the implanted
material or device.
 Biological Responses to Biomaterials

Incompatibility leads to:

1. Inflammation
2. Redness
3. swelling
4. warmth
5. pain

Other reactions include:

1. immune system activation
2. blood clotting
3. infection
4. tumor formation
5. implant calcification
 A brief history of biomaterials

Over 2000 years ago > Romans, Chinese,

and Aztecs used gold in dentistry.
1860 > Aseptic surgery technique by Dr.
Joseph Lister
(http://www.infectioncontroltoday.com/articles/2005/0
4/aseptic-technique-amp-the-sterile-field.aspx)
1900s > Metal devices to fix bone structures.
1938 > Total hip replacement prosthesis.
1950s > Polymer Cornea and Blood vessel
replacements.
 7.1.1 EXAMPLES OF BIOMATERIALS
APPLICATIONS

1. Heart Valve Prostheses

2. Artificial Hip Joints
3. Dental Implants
4. Intraocular Lenses
5. Left Ventricular Assist Device
6. Knee Joint Replacements
7. Shoulder Joint Replacements
8. Artificial Ligaments And Tendons
9. Skin Repair Devices (Artificial Tissue)
 (1) Heart Valve Prostheses
Heart diseases damage the
natural valves of the heart.
Replacement valves made of
carbons, metals, elastomers,
plastics and other human
tissue chemically pretreated.
Most widely-used design is
the bileaflet tilting-disk
mechanical heart valve.
 (2) Artificial Hip Joints
Human hip joint is subjected to high levels
of mechanical stress.
Artificial hip joints are fabricated from
titanium, stainless steel, special high-
strength alloys, ceramics, composites and
ultra-high-molecular-weight polyethylene.
 (3) Dental Implants
Titanium dental implants are devices that
form an implanted artificial tooth anchor
upon which a crown is affixed.
 (4) Intraocular Lenses
IOLs are fabricated of poly(methyl
methacrylate), silicone elastomer, soft
acrylic polymers or hydrogels.
Used to replace natural lens when it
becomes cloudy due to cataract
formation.
 (5) Left Ventricular Assist Device

LVAD is considered
one-half of a total
artificial heart.
Used to maintain a
patient with a failing
heart while awaiting
the availability of a
transplant heart.
Biocompatibility of the
materials used to
manufacture the VAD
is important.
Knee Joint
Shoulder Joint
Replacements
Replacements
7.1.2 COMMON APPLICATIONS FOR
POLYMER MATERIALS
7.1.3 COMMON APPLICATIONS FOR
CERAMIC MATERIALS
7.1.4 COMMON APPLICATIONS FOR METAL
MATERIALS
 7.1.5 USAGE OF POLYMERS
Polymers may be natural or synthetic
Natural polymers are derived from sources
within the body: collegen, fibrin, hyaluronic
acid (from carbohydrates), or outside:
chitostan (from spider exoskeletons) or
alginate (from seaweed)
Chitostan & alginate are used as wound
dressings
 (1) NATURAL POLYMERS
Advantages:
Chemical composition similar to material
they are replacing: easily integrated into
host and modifiable
Disadvantages:
Difficult to find in quantity
Low mechanical properties
Non-assurance of pathogen removal
May be recognized as foreign by immune
system
 (2) SYNTHETIC POLYMERS
Advantages:
Easily mass produced and sterilized
Can tailor physical, chemical, mechanical
and degradative properties
Disadvantages:
Do not interact with tissue in an active
manner, thus cannot direct or aid in healing
around implant site
Few have been approved by FDA