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Carbon+zarbon composite was used to manufacture carbon screws as possible material for
osteosynthesis. The mechanical properties were optimized including the fibre orientation in the
composite volume, the effect of the size of the thread and the thread shape. The mechanical properties
of the carbon screws were compared with conventional OSTEO steel cortical screws. Two types of
carbon specimens were used, varying in fibre orientation along the screw axis. The mechanical
properties of the carbon screws including the failure force for one thread and the critical shear stress
were determined. The force destroying the connection of the carbon screw with bone was determined.
The holding capacity of the carbon screw was compared to the steel screw. The extraction tests
demonstrated 50% less holding force than the OSTEO steel screw. 0 1997 Elsevier Science Limited.
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Although metal alloys are the most popular materials for EXPERIMENTAL
structural implants, their use in medicine creates many
problems. One of the major problems is their low In the first experiment a carbon screw was modelled like
compatibility with bone tissue in terms of physical and the cortical OSTEO screws. The geometrical parameters
mechanical properties; for example, the modulus of of the screws investigated were: thread diameter,
elasticity of Co-G-MO alloy is nearly 30 times that of 4.5 mm; core diameter, 3.0 mm; length, 45 mm.
bone’. Stress shielding, the possible side-effects of Carbon screws were obtained by mechanical
metal ion release, their considerably greater density in treatment of carbon bars made of carbon-carbon
comparison to bone and occasional allergic reactions composite, by a method of manufacturing described
are also disadvantages of metals in medical applications. elsewhere’. To obtain the carbon screws, two ways of
This mismatch of the mechanical properties of metallic arrangement of the carbon fibres in the carbon matrix
implants with bone produces a stress distribution in the were applied. The schemes of preparation of the
femur different from one without the implant. The carbon bars are shown in Figure 2. In the first type
growth of bone during osteosynthesis is a function of (Type 1) the carbon fibres were laid parallel to the bar
stress, and the change in the stress distribution may axis, and during further mechanical treatment the
result in the development of a bone structure in the system of fibres remained parallel to the screw axis. In
zone near the implant different from the original the second case (Type 2) the core of the bar contained
pattern. The difference in elasticity of a metallic a parallel system of fibres, whereas the external layers
implant and bone may cause loosening of the implant’. were formed in the shape according to the cutting
The advantages of using a composite material lie in the direction of the thread.
possibility of optimizing both the material’s modulus These carbon screws obtained by the two different
and strength3. Carbon-carbon composites have proved methods were tested on a Zwick 1435 testing machine.
to be acceptable in several situations4-6. Owing to their The screws were screwed in the tapped holes made in
unique physical and chemical properties they occupy two separated polyacetate plates. Subsequently, the
an outstanding position in the composite family, plates with the screw mounted in machine grips were
enabling barriers to be overcome in various fields of stretched with a constant speed of 1 mm min-‘.
technique and medicine. By using various types of
carbon matrix precursor, reinforcing carbon fibres,
various geometries of composites and thermal treatment
conditions, their properties can be altered718. This paper
discusses carbon screws for osteosynthesis, with
experimental investigation taking into account the size
and shape of the thread. The strength of a carbon
Type1 Type2
screw-cortical bone joint was determined.
Figure 1 Schematic representation of carbon matrix
Correspondence to Dr S. Blaiewicz. preparation.
z_ 500
2 ---- T/
2 450
)
P
‘C 400
(II
g 350
300
r I I I lip T I
I I I I I I I I
.iU JS 4u 45 0 55
Strain Slope of head flange, degree
Figure 2 Tensile force-strain diagram of the carbon screw Figure 4 Effect of the slope of the head flange on the
in the extraction test. shearing force of the carbon head.
Carbon screw/ Steel screw/ As a result of the study on tailoring the thread of screws
cot?. bone cork bone made of carbon composite, their holding capacity was
increased by about 50% in comparison to the
Number of thread coils 4 4 conventional OSTEO-type profile. Similarly, the holding
Failure force (N) 395 & 18 762 k 23 capacity of the carbon screw in bone tissue is greater by
Shear stress of bone 4.56 9.63
about 30% in comparison to the OSTEO-type profile.
thread (MPa)
This holding capacity represents 50% in comparison to
the union performed by using the OSTEO steel screw.
The critical value limiting the use of carbon screws is
As shown in this figure, in order to exceed the value the resistance to shearing of the thread, the
of the holding force for the screw examined (550N), improvement of which can be achieved by new
the angle M has to be greater than 50”. An increase in technological solutions.
the x parameter increases the resistance to shearing One possible solution is oxidative surface treatment of
the head, which may be explained by a lowering of the carbon screw resulting in the opening of the closed
the influence of the stress concentration resulting pores, since porosity of carbon screws is one of the main
from the thread. On the other hand, a decrease in the influences on their mechanical properties. A further
thread length decreases the active screw length and process of densification with carbon pyrolytically
the holding force of the screw. These investigations deposited from gaseous hydrocarbons in open pores
allowed us to obtain a value for the shearing forces of could improve the shear strength of the carbon composite.
the head greater than 550N, which means that the Moreover, the thin external pyrocarbon layer on the screw
value exceeds the holding capacity of the carbon surface formed during pyrolysis can improve the wear
screw. properties of this implant.
The experimental tests on the screws made of
carbon-carbon composites indicate their application
INVESTIGATION OF THE CARBON SCREW- for osteosynthesis where a high holding power is not
CORTEX BONE TISSUE JOINT required.