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%

GF97180870

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

GF84327510

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

GF15979494

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

GF00815958

Tantalum, foil, not light tested, 25x25mm, thickness 0.001mm, 99.9%

GF01292868

Tantalum, foil, 15mm disks, thickness 0.20mm, annealed, 99.9%

GF53850371

Tantalum, foil, light tested, 25x25mm, thickness 0.003mm, 99.9%

GF94153754

Tantalum, foil, 1m coil, thickness 0.025mm, as rolled, 99.9%

GF42889517

Tantalum, foil, light tested, 150x300mm, thickness 0.075mm, annealed, 99.9%

GF93289090

Tantalum, foil, light tested, 25x25mm, thickness 0.004mm, 99.9%

GF69076839

Tantalum, foil, light tested, 50x50mm, thickness 0.034mm, as rolled, 99.9%

GF55545149

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

GF11923589

Tantalum, foil, light tested, 25x25mm, thickness 0.006mm, 99.9%

GF15731186

Tantalum, foil, light tested, 25x25mm, thickness 0.01mm, 99.9%

GF33704142

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

GF38737929

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

GF98156144

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

GF77910082

Tantalum, foil, light tested, 100x100mm, thickness 0.015mm, 99.9%

GF50730106

Tantalum, foil, not light tested, 50x50mm, thickness 0.003mm, 99.9%

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Tantalum, foil, not light tested, 25x25mm, thickness 0.004mm, 99.9%

GF84835110

Tantalum, tube, 200mm, outside diameter 5.0mm, inside diameter 4.4mm, wall thickness 0.3mm, as drawn, 99.9%

GF48352798

Tantalum, foil, light tested, 50x50mm, thickness 0.006mm, 99.9%

GF98666230

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

GF91998253

Tantalum, foil, light tested, 100x100mm, thickness 0.025mm, as rolled, 99.9%

GF90076989

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

GF15417154

Tantalum, foil, not light tested, 25x25mm, thickness 0.003mm, 99.9%