Ceramics transformed: manipulating crystal structures to toughen bioceramics.
Ceramics have tremendous potential as engineering materials for the construction of medical devices but are inhibited by their inherent brittleness. This article discusses how this problem has been addressed by the development of the process of transformation toughening and places this in the broader context of the new generation of "smart" materials.
Williams
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Clinical Engineering Department, Royal Liverpool University Hospital, UK. dfw.ce@liverpool.ac.uk
D001672:Biocompatible Materials / Q000737:chemistry*; D002516:Ceramics / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002616:Chemical Engineering; D003460:Crystallization; D004864:Equipment and Supplies; D006801:Humans; D008422:Materials Testing; D013329:Structure-Activity Relationship; D015040:Zirconium