- THE MAGAZINE The many analytical instruments available today
for obtaining information about materials properties and
characteristics are as diverse as the materials used and the
applications for ceramics themselves. The latest advances in
instrumentation allow the observation and measurement of smaller
features, achieve better detection limits and determine more
accurate chemical and structural parameters than ever before.
The use of advanced ceramic materials has increased dramatically
during the past few decades. For example, ceramic-based
materials have become widely accepted for use in medical
applications, particularly for orthopedic and dental implants.
These bioceramics represent a diverse class of materials divided
into the following three major categories: bio-inert ceramics
such as alumina- and zirconia-based high-strength ceramics;
bioactive glass or glass/ceramic composites that can form direct
chemical bonds with living tissue; and ceramics that mimic
natural bone, such as calcium phosphate-ba