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GATE 2024 BM – Question 41

Biomaterials and Tissue Engineering · Biocompatibility and Implant Characteristics · 2 marks · Multiple choice

Over six months, the orthopaedic implant’s normalized molecular weight falls first, mechanical strength falls next, and mass remains initially near one before falling later, as shown. What is the most probable cause?

Diagram for GATE 2024 BM question 41
  1. Bulk erosion
  2. Surface erosion
  3. Bulk then surface erosion
  4. No erosion; injury causes mechanical breakage

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Show answer and explanation

Correct answer: (A) Bulk erosion

Explanation

In bulk erosion, water penetrates the material and cleaves polymer chains throughout. Molecular weight and strength can decrease before fragments become small enough to diffuse away and cause appreciable mass loss. This matches the delayed mass loss in the graph, A. Surface erosion would more directly remove material from the outside.

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