Additive manufacturing of low-cost porous titanium-based composites for biomedical applications: Advantages, challenges and opinion for future development

Abstract

Titanium and its alloys have received considerable attention for biomedical applications such as orthopaedic implants due to their outstanding mechanical properties and excellent biocompatibility. However, their composition, structural design and fabrication can be further tailored to improve key properties to make them more compatible with the human body and reduce their expense so that they can better compete with conventional metallic biomaterials. In this work, we provide a concise overview of additive manufacturing technologies and their application to biomedical titanium-based materials with a focus on the main achievements and issues which remain to be addressed. Subsequently, we highlight the potential to develop additive manufacturing of novel, low-cost porous titanium composites to meet the needs for biomedical orthopaedic implants. The article provides a pathway to their development through the application of alloy composition design and reinforcement strategies, manufacturing optimisation and identification of process-structure-property relationships controlling performance in combination with computer-aided structural design tools. This work aims to provide a platform for cost-effective manufacture of titanium composite orthopaedic implants with enhanced lifespans and structural compatibility.