Temperaturberechnung an den Artikulationsflächen beim künstlichen Hüftgelenk

In hip replacement the wear rate is reduced when using femoral heads and acetabular cups made of alumina ceramics. It is proposed to use Y‐TZP zirconia ceramics. The process on the articulating surfaces head/cup are not totally understood, especially the temperature rise due to frictional heating. Alumina is a stable material, no problems are expected. When using Y‐TZP its phase transition may be triggered due to frictional heating and the leaching out of yttria. The model proposed by Blok, Jaeger and Kuhlmann‐Wilsdorf was used to calculate the flash temperature under in vivo conditions. The surface temperature of the wear couple Y‐TZP/Y‐TZP was higher than the one for alumina/alumina.