Dr Athina Markaki, from Cambridge University’s Department of Materials Science & Metallurgy, has been awarded a 2004 SET (Science, Engineering and Technology) for Britain awards. It recognises her work arising from the CMI-funded project on ‘Developing an ultra-light stainless steel sheet material’. Dr Markaki conducted research into another possible application for the metal fibres, to connect prostheses to bone more effectively.

The CMI-funded project developed and patented a lightweight metal ‘sandwich’ of microscopic stainless steel fibres bonded between two very thin stainless steel faceplates.

Replacement of hip, knee and other joints, usually as a treatment for degenerative arthritis, has a worldwide market of $5 billion. These operations bring relief from pain to millions of people every year, but there is a serious problem. Prosthetic implants are attached to bone either with cement or later via bone growth into a rough surface. Loosening between bone and implant can cause problems, reducing the average prosthesis lifetime to less than 15 years. An effective method to improve the durability of implant-bone joints is urgently required.

Loosening has two main causes - poor bonding and

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