Wear mechanism and debris analysis of PEEK as an alternative to CoCrMo in the femoral component of total knee replacement

Abstract The polyetheretherketone (PEEK)-highly cross-linked polyethylene (XLPE), all-polymer knee prosthesis has excellent prospects for replacing the traditional metal/ceramic-polyethylene joint prosthesis, improving service life of and quality patients’ life. long-term wear mechanism PEEK-XLPE is comprehensively evaluated from amount, morphology, debris compared to that CoCrMo-XLPE prosthesis. After 5 million cycles in vitro wear, loss XLPE (30.9±3.2 mg) lower than (32.1±3.1 mg). Compared CoCrMo-XLPE, plastic deformation more severe early stage, adhesive peeling adhesion are lighter later stage. size distribution relatively dispersed, which concentrated. Wear mainly flake block debris, was abrasive wear. volume per unit area PEEK femoral condyle (10.45×10 µm 3 /mm 2 ) higher CoCrMo (8.32×10 ). surface furrows adhesions, while corrosion spots. flakes blocks, shape rods blocks. adhesion, corrosion.