METALL ALLOY

• A metal alloy is a mixture of elements that include at least

one metal
• This class of material is known for their high stiffness, ductility, wear
resistance, thermal and electrical conductivity. Metals and their alloys are
commonly used in implants, medical device manufacture and related
accessories. Due to their mechanical reliability, metallic biomaterials are
difficult to be replaced by ceramic and polymer substitutes. One of
advantages of using metals as biomaterials is their availability and relative
ease of processing from raw ore to finished products.
 Advantages and disadvantages of metallic
Biomaterials:
• Advantages • Disadvantages
• •
• • High strength.
• • High modulus.
• • High hardness.
• • Fatigue and impact
• • High corrosion.
resistance. • • Metal ion sensitivity
• • Wear resistance. and toxicity.
• • Easy fabrication. • • High density.
• • Easy to sterilize.
• • Shape memory.
• • inert
 STAINLESS STEELS
• Stainless steel is an iron (Fe) based alloy with at
least 11 wt. % chromium (Cr).It may also contain
several other alloying elements, such as nickel
(Ni), molybdenum (Mo),and manganese (Mn)
• High corrosion resistance, in combination with
good mechanical properties, is the main reason
for its wide use also in relatively aggressive
environments ,such as sea water, food, or the
human body.
APPLICATIONS OF STAINLESS STEEL
• Commercial-trade stainless steel is used to manufacture operating room
accessories, dental and surgical instruments which involve superficial contact
of the device with the human tissue
• Specific stainless steel grades are designed and used in biomedical
applications, such as orthopaedic, dental ,or cardiovascular implants, to
achieve biocompatibility and maintained function with time The advantages
of stainless steels, especially type 316 and 316L over other
• grades of steel:
• 1- Biocompatible.
• 2- This group of stainless steels is nonmagnetic and possesses better
• corrosion resistance than any others.
• A wide range of properties exists depending on the heat treatment
(annealing
• to obtain softer materials) or cold working (for greater strength and hardness).
 Stainless steel implant

• Stainless steel used in

implants is typically 316L
grade. It's an austenitic
steel with a face- centered
cubic (FCC) crystal structure.
The key elements are:
• • Iron (Fe): Main
component (66-70%)
 Chemical Structure and mechanical
propertis of stain less steel
• surface structure • mechanical properties
• Stainless steel used in implants is typically •  Strength: High tensile
316L grade. It's an austenitic steel with a
face- centered cubic (FCC) crystal strength and yield strength,
structure. The key elements are: suitable for load-bearing
• • Iron (Fe): Main component (66- applications (fracture fixation
70%) plates, screws).
• •Chromium (Cr): Minimum 16% - forms a •  Modulus of Elasticity:
passivating oxide layer (Cr2O3) that resists
corrosion
Higher than bone (around 200
• •Nickel (Ni): 10-14% - enhances strength GPa vs. 10-30 GPa for bone),
and ductility potentially leading to stress
• Molybdenum (Mo): Improves corrosion shielding (bone resorption due to
resistance, especially in chloride- reduced load on the bone).
containing environments like the body •  Fatigue Strength: Good, but
can be affected by surface
imperfections and cyclic loading
 Surface Properties and Design and
Processing
surface properties
• Design and Processing:
Passivating oxide layer • •Implants are designed based
(Cr2O3) provides on the specific application (bone
biocompatibility and plates, screws, joint
components).
corrosion resistance. • •Finite element analysis (FEA)
Surface can be polished to software is used to simulate
stress distribution and optimize
improve biocompatibility implant design.
(reduce friction and wear) • •Machining and surface
and reduce bacterial finishing techniques are crucial
for achieving desired shape,
adhesion. size, and biocompatibility.
 Implantation Techniques:
• 1. Surgical exposure of the bone area.
• 2. Drilling or reaming to create a cavity for
the implant.
• 3. Implant insertion using appropriate tools
(insertion jigs for complex implants).
• 4. Fixation with screws or other methods
(cements for joint replacements).
 Host Reaction and Blood-Biomaterial
Interaction
• •Release of nickel ions can occur,
potentially causing allergic reactions
in some patients (hypersensitivity).
• •Wear debris from implant micro
motion or corrosion can trigger
inflammatory responses.
• •Overall, good biocompatibility, but
potential for complications exists,
especially with long-term
implantation.

316L stainless steel bone plate

Advantage and Disadvantages of Stainless
Steel Implants
• Disadvantages of Stainless
• Advantages of Stainless Steel Implants
Steel Implants • • Corrosion:
• :High strength and • •Stress shielding: Stainless
durability: steel is much stiffer than
bone. This can lead to stress
• Stainless steel hip shielding, where the bone
replacement around the implant weakens
because it is not being
stressed as much as it should
be.
• • MRI incompatibility
Affordable
 Titanium alloy
• Titanium alloys are a group of metals that are primarily composed of titanium and other elements such
as aluminium, vanadium, and nickel.
• Properties of titanium alloy
• • High tensile strength: They can withstand high pulling forces without breaking.
• • Good toughness: They can absorb energy and resist fracturing.
• • Lightweight: They are significantly lighter than steel but offer comparable strength.
• • Biocompatible
• Ti Alloy Implants
• . In its pure form titanium is ductile and is often alloyed with other elements for
enhanced toughness.
• processed in multiple steps [to obtain the finished material. Due to it
noncorrosive properties titanium has excellent biocompatibility.
• Titanium also displays a unique property of Osseo integration where it connects
both structurally and functionally with the underlying bone. It is commonly
used in total joint replacements, dental implants, internal and external fixators,
artificial heart valves, spinal fusion and medical devices.
 Chemical Structure:
• Commercially pure titanium (cpTi) or Ti-6Al-4V alloy are commonly used.
• cpTi: Hexagonal close-packed (HCP) crystal structure. High
biocompatibility due to a stable titanium oxide (TiO2) layer that forms
spontaneously when exposed to air or body fluids
• Ti-6Al-4V:HCP structure with aluminum (Al) and vanadium (V) additions.
Offers higher strength than cpTi for load-bearing applications.
 Mechanical Properties and Surface
Properties:
• Mechanical Properties • Surface Properties
• • Strength: • Ti-6Al-4V • • Native TiO2 layer is
offers higher strength than highly biocompatible and
cpTi. Osseo integrative (encourages
bone growth on the implant
• • Modulus of Elasticity:
surface).
Closer to bone (around 110
• • Surface modifications
GPa for Ti-6Al-4V) than
like sandblasting or acid
stainless steel, reducing etching can improve Osseo
stress shielding and integration further by
promoting bone ingrowth. increasing surface roughness
• • Fatigue Strength and surface area for bone
attachment
 Surface Propertiesand Design and
Processing:
• • Native TiO2 layer is • Design and Processing:
highly biocompatible and • • Similar to stainless
Osseo integrative steel, design is based on
(encourages bone growth
application. Powder
on the implant surface).
metallurgy or machining
• • Surface modifications
techniques are used for
like sandblasting or acid
fabrication. Surface
etching can improve Osseo
integration further by treatments like
increasing surface sandblasting or grit
roughness and surface area blasting can be applied to
for bone attachment. enhance Osseo integration
•
Implantation Techniques
The implantation techniques for
titanium can be broadly categorized
into two main approaches
• 1. Surface modification
techniques: These techniques
modify the surface properties of
titanium to improve its
biocompatibility and Osseo
integration (the ability to bond with
bone).Some common surface
modification techniques include:
Sandblasting and acid etching: This
technique roughens the surface of the
titanium implant, which increases the
surface area for bone attachment.
• o Chemical treatment: This
technique involves treating the
surface of the titanium implant with
chemicals to create a more bone-
friendly surface.
• o Plasma spraying:This
technique coats the surface of the
titanium implant with a layer of
hydroxyapatite (HA), a calcium
phosphate compound that is similar
to the mineral found in bone. This
coating can promote bone growth Plasma spraying titanium
around the implant. implant
o Ion implantation:This technique
involves implanting ions of calcium and
phosphorus into the surface of the
titanium implant. This can also promote
the formation of HA on the implant
surface.
• 2. Powder metallurgy:
This technique is used to
create porous titanium
implants. Porous implants
have a network of tiny
pores on their surface.
These pores allow bone
tissue to grow into the
implant, which further
improves Osseo integration
 Host Reaction and Blood-Biomaterial
Interaction:
• • Excellent biocompatibility, rarely triggers allergic reactions due to the stable oxide layer.
• • Minimal wear debris generation due to the lubricious nature of TiO2 reduces
inflammatory responses.
• Advantages of titanium alloy
• Easily formed.
•  Highly biocompatible.
•  Outstanding corrosion resistance.
•  Better than stainless steel and cobalt-chromium alloys.
•  Forms protective oxide (TiO2) layer.
• Disadvantages of titanium alloy
• Poor wear resistance.
• Should not be used in articulated surfaces such as hip or knee joints unless surface-treated
through ion implantation which improves wear resistance.
•  High cost because the amount of processing energy and melting and casting difficulties.
•  Higher elastic modulus compared to bone.
•  Although the inert behavior of Ti is a good property, its bone attachment is difficult because it do
not react with the human tissues.
 Overall Feature Recommendations
• When choosing between stainless steel and titanium implants, consider these
factors:
• • Implant location and function: Joints requiring high strength and wear
resistance might benefit from stainless steel, while biocompatibility is crucial
for bone implants near nerves or blood vessels (titanium might be preferred).
• • Patient factors: Allergy history or concerns about weight might influence
material selection.
• • Cost considerations: Stainless steel offers a more cost-effective option,
but long-term implant success and potential revision surgeries should be
factored in.
• General Recommendations:
• • Titanium: Generally preferred for most implant applications due to its
superior biocompatibility and corrosion resistance.
• • Stainless Steel: May still be a viable option for specific applications where
high strength and lower cost are priorities, considering factors like patient
health and implant location
 Stainless Steel and Titanium Implantation
Safety
• Stainless steel and titanium are common materials for medical implants due to their strength,
biocompatibility, and corrosion resistance. However, safety considerations are essential during
their design and processing:
• • Biocompatibility:
• o The implant material should have minimal interaction with the body's tissues, minimizing the
risk of allergic reactions or rejection. Both stainless steel and titanium are generally well-tolerated,
but factors like surface finish and specific alloy composition can influence biocompatibility.
• • Corrosion resistance:
• o The implant material needs to resist corrosion within the body fluids to maintain its integrity
and prevent the release of metal ions, which can be toxic. Both stainless steel and titanium offer
good corrosion resistance, but the specific type and surface treatment can influence this property.
• • Mechanical properties:
• o The implant material should possess the necessary strength and fatigue resistance to
withstand the stresses placed upon it in the body. The chosen material and its design need to be
suitable for the intended application.
• • Quality control:
• o Rigorous quality control measures are crucial throughout the manufacturing process to
ensure the implant meets all safety and performance specifications.