BME 329

PROPERTIES OF MATERIALS FOR BIOENGINEERING

APPLICATIONS.
Learning outcome

At the end of this lecture student should be able to:

 Itemize and explain the basic properties of materials for

bioengineering applications.

 State and explain the mechanical properties of biomaterials.

 Properties of materials for bioengineering applications include
the following:
1.Biocompatibility. This is a material that is compatible
with living tissues and does not elicit harmful responses or
reactions when in contact with biological systems. This
property is essential because it ensures the safety and
functionality of implants and other medical devices within the
body.
Tissue reaction as a result
of biocompatibility
issue
3. . Mechanical strength. Materials must have sufficient
strength to withstand mechanical forces encountered in the
Intended applications (eg bone implant)
4. Biodegradability. This is the ability of a material to be
broken down and being absorbed by the body over time and
gradually replaced by natural tissue.
5. Corrosion resistance: Metallic implants biomaterials
must resist corrosion in the corrosive physiological
environment In order to maintain their integrity and function.
The presence of body fluids allows metal implants to release
metallic ions that may accumulate in nearby tissues or be
transported to other parts of the body. Corrosion is one of
the major processes that affect the life and service of orthopedic
appliances made of metals and alloys used as implants in the
body
6. Degradation rate. This refers to the speed or rate at which
materials undergoes degradation.it is a measure of how quick a
material breaks down or undergoes change in its properties over
time. Biomaterials are designed to gradually break down and be
absorbed by the body as the tissues heals
7. Surface properties. This refers to the characteristics and
attributes of a material’s outermost layer or surface that come
into direct contact with biological systems. These properties
play a crucial role in determining how biomaterials interact
with living tissues, cells, and biological fluids. Examples of
surface properties are surface roughness, surface energy, and
chemical composition
8. Bioactivity. The material should interact positively with
biological systems, promoting cell adhesion, growth, and
tissue integration
9.Chemical composition: the material's chemical composition
can influence its biocompatibility and functional capabilities.
For example, certain polymers are biodegradable, making
them suitable for temporary implants
10. Sterility and Sterilizability: Biomaterials used in medical
applications must be capable of being sterilized to prevent the
introduction of harmful microorganisms during implantation
 Mechanical properties of Biomaterials

1.Stress can be defined by the ratio of the perpendicular force

applied to a specimen divided by its original cross-sectional
area. It is the internal resistance of a material to deformation
when subjected to an external load it is also called engineering
stress. The SI. Unit is N/m2 =1Pa
Stress can simply be expressed as
Stress (σ) = F/A.
2. Strain is the ratio of change in length due to deformation to
the original length of the specimen. It is also called
engineering strain. strain does not have a unit, but often units
of m/m (or mm/mm) are used. It is the measure of the
deformation of a material in response to stress.
Strain(ε) = change in length/original length
3.Young’s modulus (elastic constant young modulus and shear
modulus). This property describes a material’s stiffness or
how much it deforms under a given amount of stress. It's
defined as the ratio of stress to strain in the linear elastic
region of the stress-strain curve.
These two moduli are a direct macroscopic manifestation of
the strength of the interatomic bond. Elastic strain is achieved
by increasing inter-atomic distance in the crystal Materials
with high elastic modulus (e.g., metals) are stiff and deform
less while those with low elastic modulus (e.g., rubber) are
more flexible.
Isotropy of the two constants, i.e young modulus (E) and
shear modulus (G) are all needed to fully characterise the
stiffness of an isotopic material (I.e material whose properties
are the same in all directions).
Single crystals are anisotropic because the stiffness varies as
the orientation of applied force changes relative to the inter
atomic bond directions in the crystals. Polycrystalline
materials e.g metals and ceramics has a multitude of
grains(crystallites)that are aggregated with multiple
distributed orientations. Thus, making them to exhibit
isotropic behaviour at the macroscopic level on the other hand
many polymeric materials and most tissue samples are
anisotropic
By using the definitions of stress and strain, Hooke’s law
can be expressed in quantitative terms:
=E , ( tension or compression )

= G , ( shear )
E and G are proportionality constants that may be
likened to spring constants.
4. Shear strength. Shear strength is the maximum shear
stress a material can withstand before failure. It's relevant
for materials subjected to parallel forces acting in opposite
direction.
Diagram showing elastic shear strain
5.Yield strength is the stress at which a material begins to
deform plastically (i.e., it doesn't return to its original shape
after the load is removed.
6. Ultimate tensile strength is the maximum stress a material
can withstand before it fails.
7. Ductility is the ability of a material to undergo substantial
plastic deformation before rupture or rupture.
8. Brittle fracture. Brittleness is the tendency of a material to
fracture without significant plastic deformation. Brittle fracture
in real materials, elastic behaviour does not persist indefinitely.
Microscopic defects, which are present in all real materials
will eventually begin to grow rapidly under the influence of
the applied tensile or shear stress, and the specimen will fail
suddenly by brittle fracture. The stress at which failure
occurred is called fracture stress.
9.Toughness measures a material's ability to absorb energy
before fracture. It is the area under the stress-strain curve
up to the point of fracture. Tough materials can withstand
impact or shock loading without breaking, Fracture toughness
resistance to crack propagation.
10. Compressive strength. This is the maximum compressive
stress a material can withstand before failure. It's relevant
for materials subjected to compression forces
11. Fatigue resistance. This property describes a material's ability
to withstand cyclic loading without failure. It's crucial for
materials subjected to repeated stresses over time.
12. Creep resistance. Creep is the gradual deformation of a
material under a constant load over time. Creep resistance is
important for materials used in long-term application
13. Hardness is a measure of a material's resistance to localized
plastic deformation (e.g., indentation or scratching). It can
provide information about wear resistance