The number of aged person is increasing having a disease for bone, tooth and innards. So the necessity of these substitute materials must be increasing. Alumina ceramics are used for substitute materials as bonehead of a thighbone joint, because of its high strength and bio-inert properties. For many biomaterials a fracture occurs due to both corrosion and fatigue. In this study, effects of similar body fluid (SBF) environment on mechanical properties and microstructure of Al_2O_3 were investigated. Microstructural changes of Al_2O_3 ceramics due to SBF corrosion degradation were also examined by scanning electron microscope after long time immersion into SBF at 37℃. Degradation of bending strength and fracture toughness (K_C) were evaluated.
