Micropiercing of titanium foil by a roll press method

Abstract

Titanium (Ti) has many valuable properties, such as its light weight, high strength, and corrosion resistance. Consequently, it has attracted attention as a highly biocompatible material for implants in the human body. A process has been developed for micropiercing Ti by a roll-to-substrate method to produce a barrier membrane for guided tissue regeneration. In this method, a concavo-convex shaped mold is positioned between a press roll and a stage that moves the substrate while the roll presses it. The technique has low costs, operates at room temperature, and permits high-throughput continuous piercing without damage from thermal effects or oxidation. The processed membrane is suitable for use in biocompatible devices. We investigated the characteristics of a Ti sheet perforated in the presence or absence of a lining film and their dependence on the pressing load. In the absence of a lining film, the aperture ratio was poor and, moreover, the pattern of the mold did not penetrate the film evenly. In contrast, when a lining film was used, almost complete penetration was achieved. The size of the holes that penetrated the film increased with increasing load.