Corrosion behavior of tantalum-coated cobalt-chromium modular necks compared to titanium modular necks in a simulator test.

Corrosion behavior of tantalum-coated cobalt-chromium modular necks compared to titanium modular necks in a simulator test.

The Journal of arthroplasty (2013-10-09)

Ulrich Dorn, Daniel Neumann, Mario Frank

ABSTRACT

This study compared the corrosion behavior of tantalum-coated cobalt-chromium modular necks with that of titanium alloy modular necks at their junction to titanium-alloy femoral stem. Tests were performed in a dry assembly and two wet assemblies, one contaminated with calf serum and the other contaminated with calf serum and bone particles. Whereas the titanium modular neck tested in the dry assembly showed no signs of corrosion, the titanium modular necks tested in both wet assemblies showed marked depositions and corrosive attacks. By contrast, the tantalum-coated cobalt-chromium modular necks showed no traces of corrosion or chemical attack in any of the three assemblies. This study confirms the protective effect of tantalum coating the taper region of cobalt-chromium modular neck components, suggesting that the use of tantalum may reduce the risk of implant failure due to corrosion.

MATERIALS

Product Number

Brand

Product Description

262846

Sigma-Aldrich

Tantalum, powder, −325 mesh, 99.9% trace metals basis

357243

Sigma-Aldrich

Tantalum, foil, thickness 0.05 mm, ≥99.9% trace metals basis

692824

Sigma-Aldrich

Tantalum, powder, 60-100 mesh, 99.9%

GF07363953

Tantalum, foil, 10mm disks, thickness 0.0125mm, 99.9%

GF97180870

Tantalum, foil, light tested, 50x50mm, thickness 0.01mm, 99.9%

GF98666230

Tantalum, foil, light tested, 150x150mm, thickness 0.03mm, as rolled, 99.9%

GF52742099

Tantalum, foil, light tested, 100x100mm, thickness 0.034mm, as rolled, 99.9%

GF33704142

Tantalum, foil, not light tested, 100x100mm, thickness 0.009mm, 99.9%

GF19254472

Tantalum, foil, not light tested, 25x25mm, thickness 0.0005mm, 99.9%

GF24352028

Tantalum, rod, 100mm, diameter 6.35mm, annealed, 99.9%

GF83507238

Tantalum, foil, light tested, 100x100mm, thickness 0.03mm, as rolled, 99.9%

GF98156144

Tantalum, foil, not light tested, 25x25mm, thickness 0.0015mm, 99.9%

GF15979494

Tantalum, foil, light tested, 50x50mm, thickness 0.075mm, annealed, 99.9%

GF64195780

Tantalum, tube, 1000mm, outside diameter 8.7mm, inside diameter 8.34mm, wall thickness 0.18mm, as drawn, 99.9%

GF55545149

Tantalum, foil, light tested, 25x25mm, thickness 0.02mm, 99.9%

GF87514421

Tantalum, rod, 50mm, diameter 12.7mm, annealed, 99.9%

GF26860787

Tantalum, tube, 100mm, outside diameter 2.1mm, inside diameter 1.6mm, wall thickness 0.25mm, as drawn, 99.9%

GF65369324

Tantalum, foil, light tested, 100x100mm, thickness 0.05mm, annealed, 99.9%

GF15129817

Tantalum, foil, not light tested, 50x50mm, thickness 0.01mm, 99.9%

GF90076989

Tantalum, foil, not light tested, 50x50mm, thickness 0.0015mm, 99.9%

GF38737929

Tantalum, pellets, 20g, max. size 10mm, 99.9%

GF37455970

Tantalum, tube, 100mm, outside diameter 0.31mm, inside diameter 0.19mm, wall thickness 0.06mm, as drawn, 99.9%

GF35432221

Tantalum, rod, 50mm, diameter 10.0mm, annealed, 99.9%

GF42703332

Tantalum, rod, 200mm, diameter 1.5mm, annealed, 99.9%

GF64866202

Tantalum, foil, not light tested, 82x100mm, thickness 0.006mm, 99.9%

GF23427873

Tantalum, tube, 100mm, outside diameter 3.0mm, inside diameter 2mm, wall thickness 0.5mm, as drawn, 99.9%

GF84327510

Tantalum, foil, not light tested, 25x25mm, thickness 0.01mm, 99.9%

GF49325643

Tantalum, tube, 1000mm, outside diameter 1.05mm, inside diameter 0.65mm, wall thickness 0.2mm, as drawn, 99.9%

GF29028405

Tantalum, rod, 100mm, diameter 10.0mm, annealed, 99.9%

GF28826152

Tantalum, rod, 50mm, diameter 18mm, annealed, 99.9%