[Experimental protocol for mechanical characterization of a femoral implant of carbon-Peek composite hip prosthesis in fatigue].

This study concerns the fatigue behavior of a C/Peek hip implant. It is now well-established that the extent of bone loss around a total hip arthroplasty stem is related to stress shielding process. Due to a modulus mismatch between the bone and the implant material, the load transfer to the stem decreases the mechanical stimulus needed by the bone to maintain its structure. Because of its low modulus of elasticity and its good resistance to fatigue in aeronautical applications, the Fiber Carbon/Peek composite could potentially replace some of the metal alloys used in hip stem implant. After a literature survey on biomechanical performances of some fiber carbon composites, including AS4/Peek, experimental quasi-static and fatigue compression tests have been performed on AS4/Peek hip implants. The structural and mechanical characterization of the injection moulded composite material has been realized. The prosthesis compression and fatigue behaviour have been studied with a joint-stimulating apparatus immersed in a physiological solution temperature controlled. Instead of the low specimen homogeneity, no fatigue damage has been revealed either by X-ray observations of stiffness measurements, till ten millions of cycles. The quasi-static compressive fracture morphology has been analyzed by S.E.M. and have shown a good fiber matrix bonding. This mechanical results would suggest that AS4/Peek hip stem are worthy of further investigation as implantable prostheses.