SummaryThe possibility of evaluating the elastic moduli of the bone-porous biomaterial interface by treating it as a two-phase composite is discussed. Methods of placing bounds on the elastic moduli of such a composite are presented and applied to five materials currently being considered for use in porous prosthetic devices: 316 stainless steel, titanium, cobalt-chromium-molybdenum alloy (Vitallium), alumina (Al*O3), and high density polyethylene. The results show that when the prosthetic material becomes completely ingrown with bone, the elastic modulus of the composite becomes more compatible with bone. Titanium appears to be very favorable. Young's modulus for bulk titanium is about four times that of bone, while the fully ingrown composite has a Young's modulus approximately twice that of bone. Similar results obtain for the other elastic moduli. It is noted that the results for 316 SS apply to all surgical stainless steels, those for Co-Cr-Mo apply to other Co-Cr alloys and those for titanium apply to alloyed titanium.