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Why must pores in a bioceramic implant be larger than 100 micrometres and interconnected for bone to grow inside?
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advanced structural ceramics
Figure 1: Resistance to cracking in transformation-toughened zirconia. In a ceramic composed of tetragonal zirconia dispersed in a zirconia matrix, the stress field advancing ahead of a propagating crack transforms the small tetragonal particles to larger monoclinic particles. The larger particles exert a crack-closing force in the process zone behind the crack tip, effectively resisting propagation of the crack.
In the field of bioceramics, porous implants are specifically engineered to facilitate the integration of new bone tissue. For this process to be successful, the pores must exceed 100 micrometres in size and be interconnected.
This structural requirement is essential because it allows bone tissue to grow directly into the pore channels. By maintaining this interconnected network, the implant ensures the necessary vascularity—the supply of blood vessels—is maintained within the newly formed bone, which is vital for the tissue's survival and long-term health.1