Abstract
Structural discontinuities characterize the implants produced directly from metal powders in 3D printing technology. Mainly, the surface defects should be subjected to procedures associated with surface layer modification (likewise shot peening) resulting in the increase of the implant service life maintaining optimal biocompatibility. Therefore, the purpose of the present study was to investigate the effect of type of shot used for the peening process on the Ti-6Al-4V implants functional properties as well as the biological properties. The components were produced by DMLS (direct metal laser sintering) additive technology. The surfaces of titanium specimens have been subjected to the shot peening process by means of three different shots, i.e., CrNi steel shot, crushed nut shells, and ceramic balls shot. Then, the specimens have been subjected to profilometric analysis, microhardness tests, and static strength testing as well as to the assessment of biocompatibility in respect of cytotoxicity using human BJ fibroblasts. The shot peening process causes the strengthening of surface layer and the increase of strength parameters. Furthermore, the test results indicate good biocompatibility of surfaces being tested, and the effect of shot peening process on the titanium alloy cytotoxicity is acceptable. At the same time, most favourable behaviour in respect of cytotoxicity has been found in the case of surfaces modified by means of ceramic balls > nut shells > CrNi steel shot correspondingly.
Highlights
Additive manufacturing in healthcare sector is still in progress [1]
Additive technologies belong to the most promising production methods of metal implants made of Ti-6Al-4V [5, 6]. It has been observed [2, 3, 6, 7] that the products obtained by means of 3D printing technology, even in the case of consideration of optimal parameters of printing technology recommended by the manufacturers of metal powders laser sintering systems, are characterized by certain structural discontinuities in surface layer. is type of implant surface defects in the form of unmelted metal powder grains or pores occurred as a result of collapse of welding puddle may reduce useful parameters of implants and, in consequence, may lead to the necessity to carry out revision surgeries
Gas-atomized Ti-6Al-4V alloy powder has been used for specimen production. e specimens have been printed by means of direct metal powder laser sintering (DMLS) technique using the EOSINT M280 metal powder laser sintering system (EOS GmbH, Germany)
Summary
Additive manufacturing in healthcare sector is still in progress [1]. it is already applied in in numerous different ways in many fields of medicine and becoming increasingly popular in particular when it is required to produce an implant with complex shapes adapted for anatomic conditions of the patient. Additive technologies belong to the most promising production methods of metal implants made of Ti-6Al-4V [5, 6]. It has been observed [2, 3, 6, 7] that the products obtained by means of 3D printing technology, even in the case of consideration of optimal parameters of printing technology recommended by the manufacturers of metal powders laser sintering systems, are characterized by certain structural discontinuities (defects) in surface layer. Despite the fact that the literature of the subject signalizes the problem of proper surface finish of 3Dmanufactured biomedical components, the solution has not been presented. us, the shot peening technology seems to be promising
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