Projects Profile
Project Title
Processing of nanostructured titanium for use in medical implants
Partnership
Prof. Terence G. Langdon, Materials Research Group, School of Engineering Sciences, University of Southampton
Dr. Nong Gao, Materials Research Group, School of Engineering Sciences, University of Southampton
Prof. Jingtao Wang, School of Materials Science and Engineering, Nanjing University of Science and Technology
Prof. Xicheng Zhao, School of Metallurgical Engineering, Xi'an University of Architecture and Technology
Project Aim
The aim of this project is to extend and optimize the outcomes of the ICUK partnership project in applying Equal-Channel Angular Pressing (ECAP) technology to titanium in order to demonstrate that it may be used successfully for the commercial production of Ti parts for use as biomedical implants.
Inspiration for the projects
Commercial purity (CP) titanium and titanium alloys such as Ti-6% Al-4% V are in wide use for medical implants. Applications include hip and knee replacements and dental implants for crowns and orthodontal purposes. These materials are effective but the applications are limited by the overall strength such that an increase in strength would permit the use of smaller parts and less invasive surgery.
Commercial Potential and Further Development
To meet the demands of longer lives in contemporary society, the artificial materials used in orthopedic surgery must avoid short-term rejection and infection and also provide biocompatibility and long-term materials properties. For example, they require high strength, high wear resistance, high resistance to corrosion despite being within the human body and there must be no associated toxicity. Titanium-base alloys have excellent biocompatibility, low density, and excellent corrosion resistance. The project has already attracted interest from a number of manufacturing companies in both the UK and China. It is the intention of the team to continue to develop these contacts with a view to the licensing of the technology in the future.
