Ti6Al4V Particles Research Articles

Preparation and mechanical performance analysis of porous Ti6Al4V scaffold fabricated by direct ink writing

In order to mitigate the stress-shielding effect resulting from the stiffness disparity between titanium alloy and bone, the use of additive manufacturing to create porous Ti6Al4V components shows promise for orthopedic implant applications. In this study, a novel hot-melt–quick-frozen polyvinyl alcohol hydrogel was developed for direct ink writing to create porous titanium structures using Ti6Al4V powders with an irregular morphology. The rheological and sintering properties of inks with varying solid phase contents were examined to assess their molding quality. Furthermore, the effect of porosity on the morphology, shrinkage, and mechanical properties of the scaffolds was thoroughly investigated. The results of the experiments show that inks loaded with 65 vol. % Ti6Al4V particles exhibit the highest printing performance. Furthermore, the analysis revealed a positive correlation between the total porosity of the scaffold and its mechanical performance. In particular, the strength of the scaffold with a porosity of 54.8% exceeded that of human bone, and it also exhibited matched stiffness. Upon analyzing the final microstructure and mechanical properties, it is evident that these scaffolds meet the necessary criteria for use as orthopedic implants.

In-depth characterization of FSP-enhanced aluminum metal matrix: A study in materials modeling and computational techniques

The production of aluminum metal-matrix composites (AMM) involves reinforcing aluminum and its alloys with various powders, with the addition of ceramic reinforcements expected to enhance the mechanical properties, corrosion resistance, and the wear resistance behaviour. However, suboptimal production techniques often result in reduced ductility and toughness when incorporating non-deformable ceramic reinforcements. To address this, friction stir processing (FSP) was employed as a novel surface modification process, using Ti–6Al–4V particles to reinforce 1100 Aluminum Alloy. Microstructures of the composites were analyzed through Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), revealing a mean particle size of 2.69 × 103μm for a one-pass FSP at X155 magnification. Notably, the two-pass sample with a particle size of 2.69 × 103μm displayed fewer spherical structures and more irregular structures, indicating a change in the flow mechanism. The three-pass sample exhibited a mean particle size of 1.36 × 103μm, indicating a more uniform distribution and significant size reduction compared to one and two passes.Additionally, a torque-based predicted heat-input analysis indicated that higher temperatures resulting from increased heat production rate and power input led to a decrease in the torque with rising rotational speed. The threaded taper tool generated more heat, potentially facilitating plastic deformation. Finite Element Analysis (FEA) using ABAQUS predicted how this heat affected composite quality, closely aligning with experimental data, with less than a 10 °C difference between processing temperatures in experimental and simulated data. The peak temperature increased as the tool rotated at various tool speeds in line with the projected temperature history of FSP. This study is a significant contribution to enhancing aluminium metal matrix composite through the FSP technology.

Processing of Porous-Core Materials for Bone Implant Applications: A Permeability and Mechanical Strength Analysis

This study presents a methodology to fabricate Ti6Al4V cylindrical compacts with a highly porous core and dense shell with the aim to mimic the bone microstructure. Compacts with different core diameters were obtained via conventional pressing and sintering. Large pores were created with the aid of pore formers. Dilatometry was used to determine the sintering kinetics, while X-ray computed tomography was used for characterization. Also, the permeability was evaluated on the 3D microstructure, and the mechanical strength was evaluated via compression tests. The results indicated that sintering was constrained by the different densification rates of the porous and dense layers. However, defect-free compacts were obtained due to neck bonding between the Ti6Al4V particles. Large pores were located in the designed core with a similar pore size distribution. The permeability increased following a power law as a function of the pore volume fraction. The porous core drove the stiffness of the bilayer components, while the combination of both layers increased their strength. The bilayer materials showed permeability (1.36 × 10−10 m2), mechanical properties (E = 6.83 GPa and σy = 299 MPa), and admissible strain (σy/E = 43 × 10−3) similar to those of human bones.

In situ TiC reinforced Ti6Al4V matrix composites manufactured via selective laser melting

PurposeCurrent methods for the preparation of composite powder feedstock for selective laser melting (SLM) rely on costly nanoparticles or yield inconsistent powder morphology. This study aims to develop a cost-effective Ti6Al4V-carbon feedstock, which preserves the parent Ti6Al4V particle’s flowability, and produces in situ TiC-reinforced Ti6Al4V composites with superior traits.Design/methodology/approachTi6Al4V particles were directly mixed with graphite flakes in a planetary ball mill. This composite powder feedstock was used to manufacture in situ TiC-Ti6Al4V composites using various energy densities. Relative porosity, microstructure and hardness of the composites were evaluated for different SLM processing parameters.FindingsHomogeneously carbon-coated Ti6Al4V particles were produced by direct mixing. After SLM processing, in situ grown 100–500 nm size TiC nanoparticles were distributed within the α-martensite Ti6Al4V matrix. The formation of TiC particles refines the Ti6Al4V β grain size. Relative density varied between 96.4% and 99.5% depending on the processing parameters. Hatch distance, exposure time and point distance were all effective on relative porosity change, whereas only exposure time and point distance were effective on hardness change.Originality/valueThis work introduces a novel, cost-effective powder feedstock preparation method for SLM manufacture of Ti6Al4V-TiC composites. The in situ SLM composites achieved in this study have high relative density values, well-dispersed TiC nanoparticles and increased hardness. In addition, the feedstock preparation method can be readily adapted for various matrix and reinforcement materials in future studies.

The Effect of Various Ti6Al4V Powders on the Behavior of Particle-Reinforced Polyester Matrix Composites

In this study, recycled and commercial Ti6Al4V powder was added to polyester composites at various filling ratios by weight fraction. Three weight fractions of Ti6Al4V particles, 0%, 5%, and 10%, were chosen for study. By examining the mechanical and microstructural properties of polyester composites, the effects of the Ti6Al4V powder proportion by weight fraction and particle size parameters were investigated. With the filler loading, a 39% increase in the tensile strength of the composites was achieved. A minor decrease in flexural strength was observed at 5% filler weight fraction. The addition of the recycled Ti6Al4V powder to the polyester matrix slightly reduced the thermal conductivity of the composite over that of the neat polymer. However, the incorporation of the commercial Ti6Al4V powder fillers in the polyester matrix considerably increased the thermal conductivity of the composites, suggesting several potential uses. The presence of high levels of oxygen in the powder led to reduced thermal conductivity of the composites due to the reduction in phonon scattering.

Melting behavior of in-flight particles in ultra-high speed laser cladding

The melting of particles is a unique characteristic that differentiates ultra-high speed laser cladding (UHSLC) from conventional laser cladding (LC). However, the investigation on the melting behavior of in-flight particles in UHSLC is inadequate and difficult due to the mutual impacts of laser, particles and substrates. Therefore, a smart experiment was designed to explore the melting behavior of in-flight particles, in which the impact of substrates was eliminated. The surface morphology and the cross-sectional views of the molten 316L and Ti6Al4V particles were characterized using a scanning electron microscope (SEM). The interfaces between the particles and substrates were analyzed using a transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The melting model was built using ray tracing method (RTM) and finite element method (FEM). The results show that the in-flight particles presented semi-molten morphology with the laser power of 1800 W. Meanwhile some full-molten particles were observed with the laser power of 3000 W. The simulation results show that the particle temperature was regulated by the particle sizes and velocities instead of the feeding rates. The temperature of the 316L particles with a size of 30 μm decreased from 2718 K to 725 K as the particle velocity increased from 3 m/s to 20 m/s. The temperature of the Ti6Al4V particles with a velocity of 10 m/s decreased from 3859 K to 867 K as the particle size increased from 5 μm to 60 μm. The incident laser is dominant in temperature rising. The sheltering effect cannot be neglected. The temperature of 316L, Ag, Al6061, Cu, Inconel 718 and Ti6Al4V particles in UHSLC was predicted. The results offer a new perspective to understand the melting behavior of in-flight particles in UHSLC.

Evaluation of the inflammatory and osteogenic response induced by titanium particles released during implantoplasty of dental implants

Implantoplasty is a mechanical decontamination technique that consists of removing the threads and polishing and smoothing the dental implant surface. During implantoplasty there is a large release of titanium metal particles that might provoke a proinflammatory response and reduce the viability of osteogenic cells. We analyze the inflammatory and osteogenic response induced by Ti6Al4V particles released during implantoplasty and by as-received commercially pure Ti particles. Macrophages stimulated with metal particles obtained by implantoplasty and with as-received Ti particles showed an increased proinflammatory expression of TNF-α and a decreased expression of TGF-β and CD206. Regarding cytokine release, there was an increase in IL-1β, while IL-10 decreased. The osteogenic response of Ti6Al4V extracts showed a significant decrease in Runx2 and OC expression compared to the controls and commercially pure Ti extracts. There were no relevant changes in ALP activity. Thus, implantoplasty releases metal particles that seems to induce a pro-inflammatory response and reduce the expression of osteogenic markers.

Deposition behavior and bonding mechanism during cold spraying of Ti6Al4V on different substrates

In this study, single Ti6Al4V (hereafter referred to as “Ti64”) particles were deposited onto various substrates (Al, Cu, 304 stainless steel (SS), and Ti64) by cold spraying to investigate the contact interaction and bonding mechanisms between the particle and substrate. The results showed that deformation occurred only on the Al substrate when impacted by the Ti64 particle, whereas both, the Ti64 particle and Cu substrate, were deformed upon impact. In the case of Ti64/SS and Ti64/Ti64, the particles underwent deformation, whereas the substrates were not severely deformed. Transmission electron microscopy analysis of the interfacial microstructure of Ti64/Al showed an interfacial oxide layer between the particle and substrate, which prevented the adhesion of the cold-sprayed Ti64 particle. However, localized metallurgical bonding occurred because of the transformation of the oxide layer into an amorphous phase. In contrast, for Ti64/SS, the deformation of both, the particle and substrate, led to grain refinement caused by dynamic recrystallization at the interface. The constituents of the substrate and particle were fully intermixed at the interface and formed a strong metallurgical bond.

A biomechanical evaluation on Cubic, Octet, and TPMS gyroid Ti6Al4V lattice structures fabricated by selective laser melting and the effects of their debris on human osteoblast-like cells.

Lattice structures are widely used in orthopedic implants due to their unique features, such as high strength-to-weight ratios and adjustable biomechanical properties. Based on the type of unit cell geometry, lattice structures may be classified into two types: strut-based structures and sheet-based structures. In this study, strut-based structures (Cubic & Octet) and sheet-based structure (triply periodic minimal surface (TPMS) gyroid) were investigated. The biomechanical properties of the three different Ti6Al4V lattice structures fabricated by selective laser melting (SLM) were investigated using room temperature compression testing. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX) were used to check the 3D printing quality with regards to defects and quantitative compositional information of 3D printed parts. Experimental results indicated that TPMS gyroid has superior biomechanical properties when compared to Cubic and Octet. Also, TPMS gyroid was found to be less affected by the variations in relative density. The biocompatibility of Ti6Al4V lattice structures was validated through the cytotoxicity test with human osteoblast-like SAOS2 cells. The debris generated during the degradation process in the form of particles and ions is among the primary causes of implant failure over time. In this study, Ti6Al4V particles with spherical and irregular shapes having average particle sizes of 36.5μm and 28.8μm, respectively, were used to mimic the actual Ti6Al4V particles to understand their harmful effects better. Also, the effects and amount of Ti6Al4V ions released after immersion within the cell culture media were investigated using the indirect cytotoxicity test and ion release test.

Influence of powder properties and processing gas on the microstructural evolution of Armstrong CP-titanium and Ti6Al4V powders processed by cold spray

This paper studies the microstructural evolution of commercially pure titanium (CP-Ti) and Ti6Al4V powders manufactured by the Armstrong process deposited by cold spray with nitrogen and helium. The unique, coral-like morphology of the powders resulted in high density deposits sprayed with both nitrogen and helium carrier gasses. The plastic deformation of the CP-Ti and Ti6Al4V particles upon impact leads to refinement of the equiaxed grains present in the starting powder. CP-Ti deposits sprayed with nitrogen result in a grain size of 1 ± 0.6 μm while deposit processed with helium results in a grain size of 0.7 ± 0.2 μm with no clear difference between the grain size at particle interiors and at prior particles boundaries. The low levels of intragranular misorientation in the CP-Ti helium deposit indicated the presence of recrystallized grains. The higher grain refinement when using helium as carrier gas resulted in a weak basal plane (0001) fiber texture. Regions of ultrafine grains are also identified in the microstructure of Ti6Al4V analyzed by SEM. Microhardness values of the deposits made with these coral-like morphology powders were similar to CP-Ti and Ti6Al4V cold sprayed deposits produced with spherical powders. • The microstructure was refined in both the cold sprayed CP-Ti and Ti6Al4V deposits. • Recrystallized grains were identified in the cold sprayed CP-Ti deposit sprayed with helium gas. • EBSD of CP-Ti sprayed with helium gas revealed a weak texture in the basal <0001> direction. • The vanadium-rich regions presented in the Ti6Al4V powder are retained in the cold spray deposit.

Physicochemical and Biological Characterization of Ti6Al4V Particles Obtained by Implantoplasty: An In Vitro Study. Part I.

Implantoplasty is a mechanical decontamination technique that consists of polishing the supra-osseous component of the dental implant with peri-implantitis. This technique releases metal particles in the form of metal swarf and dust into the peri-implant environment. In the present in vitro study, the following physicochemical characterization tests were carried out: specific surface area, granulometry, contact angle, crystalline structure, morphology, and ion release. Besides, cytotoxicity was in turn evaluated by determining the fibroblastic and osteoblastic cell viability. As a result, the metal debris obtained by implantoplasty presented an equivalent diameter value of 159 µm (range 6–1850 µm) and a specific surface area of 0.3 m2/g on average. The particle had a plate-like shape of different sizes. The release of vanadium ions in Hank’s solution at 37 °C showed no signs of stabilization and was greater than that of titanium and aluminum ions, which means that the alloy suffers from a degradation. The particles exhibited cytotoxic effects upon human osteoblastic and fibroblastic cells in the whole extract. In conclusion, metal debris released by implantoplasty showed different sizes, surface structures and shapes. Vanadium ion levels were higher than that those of the other metal ions, and cell viability assays showed that these particles produce a significant loss of cytocompatibility on osteoblasts and fibroblasts, which means that the main cells of the peri-implant tissues might be injured.

Mechanical Properties and Corrosion Behavior of Ti6Al4V Particles Obtained by Implantoplasty: An In Vitro Study. Part II.

In the field of implant dentistry there are several mechanisms by which metal particles can be released into the peri-implant tissues, such as implant insertion, corrosion, wear, or surface decontamination techniques. The aim of this study was to evaluate the corrosion behavior of Ti6Al4V particles released during implantoplasty of dental implants treated due to periimplantitis. A standardized protocol was used to obtain metal particles produced during polishing the surface of Ti6Al4V dental implants. Physicochemical and biological characterization of the particles were described in Part I, while the mechanical properties and corrosion behavior have been studied in this study. Mechanical properties were determined by means of nanoindentation and X-ray diffraction. Corrosion resistance was evaluated by electrochemical testing in an artificial saliva medium. Corrosion parameters such as critical current density (icr), corrosion potential (ECORR), and passive current density (iCORR) have been determined. The samples for electrochemical behavior were discs of Ti6Al4V as-received and discs with the same mechanical properties and internal stresses than the particles from implantoplasty. The discs were cold-worked at 12.5% in order to achieve the same properties (hardness, strength, plastic strain, and residual stresses). The implantoplasty particles showed a higher hardness, strength, elastic modulus, and lower strain to fracture and a compressive residual stress. Resistance to corrosion of the implantoplasty particles decreased, and surface pitting was observed. This fact is due to the increase of the residual stress on the surfaces which favor the electrochemical reactions. The values of corrosion potential can be achieved in normal conditions and produce corroded debris which could be cytotoxic and cause tattooing in the soft tissues.

Nanocrystallization of interfacial microstructure of deformed particles in cold sprayed Ti6Al4V deposits

The low temperature solid deposition characteristics of cold spraying technology are conducive to the remanufacturing/repair of oxidation sensitive titanium alloy in the atmosphere. Ti6Al4V alloy deposits prepared by cold spray (CS) usually show porous microstructure due to insufficient plastic deformation of Ti6Al4V alloy particles. The interfacial bonding and the microstructural evolution mechanisms of Ti6Al4V particles during cold spray are still unclear. In this study, the Ti6Al4V deposits were prepared by cold spray with nitrogen as process gas at a temperature of 800 °C and a pressure of 4 MPa. The micron CT results show that the porosity is 8.25%. The deformation ultrafine grain zone and un-deformation martensitic laths zone at the bonding interface between Ti6Al4V particles were observed. The EBSD results show that the grain orientation signal was only detected at the edge of the particles deformation area and the 23% of grain sizes detected by EBSD are less than 500 nm, which indicates that the nanocrystallization induced by dynamic recrystallization occurs at the inter-particle boundaries between cold-sprayed Ti6Al4V particles. The TEM and SADPs demonstrate a gradient structure consisting of equiaxed nanograins zone, crushing dendrites transition zone and original martensitic laths zone from the interface to the core of particles.

Effect of the Ag addition on the compressibility, sintering and properties of Ti6Al4V/xAg composites processed by powder metallurgy

This work investigates the fabrication of Ti6Al4V/xAg composites processed by powder metallurgy. An atomized Ti6Al4V powder was blended with 0, 5, 10, 15 and 20 vol% of Ag particles, compacted in a die, and sintered above Ag melting point. The compressibility of the mixtures was analyzed, and the sintering kinetics was evaluated by dilatometry tests. The characterization of sintered samples by microtomography, SEM and diffraction analysis allowed determining the effect of Ag amount on the sintering process and on microstructural changes arising during sintering. The mechanical properties of sintered materials were investigated by microhardness. The compressibility of Ti6Al4V powder was found to be improved by adding soft Ag particles, which resulted in denser packing and larger plastic deformation. The densification during compaction can be predicted by Heckel model and the rule of mixture. It was next found that sintering was driven by volume diffusion in the solid state for Ag content lower than 10 vol% and involved a liquid phase for Ag content higher than 15 vol%. In the latter case, the liquid fills the interconnected pores under the action of capillary forces as the quantity of liquid increased. The microstructure was composed mainly of α-Ti, Ti2Ag, and Ag, which filled the pores between Ti6Al4V particles. Microhardness data showed a maximum value with 20 vol% of Ag. This value is similar to those reported for highly dense Ti6Al4V. It has thus proved that close to full-dense Ti6Al4V/20Ag composites can be processed by powder metallurgy.

X-ray Computed Microtomography Characterization of Ti6Al4V/CoCrMo Biomedical Composite Fabricated by Semi-solid Sintering

The semi-solid sintering of a novel Ti6Al4V/CoCrMo biomedical composite was investigated for the first time by semi-in situ X-ray computed microtomography. Composite was fabricated by dry mixing 15 vol% CoCrMo reinforcing particles with Ti6Al4V particles as matrix. The mixture was poured into a 1 mm diameter quartz capillary. 3D images of the same sample were acquired before and after sintering at different temperatures between 1050 and 1130 °C. Qualitative and quantitative analysis of the 3D images was carried out to observe the evolution of the microstructure. Formation and evolution with temperature of eutectic phase were monitored. It was found that the eutectic reaction started between Ti6Al4V and CoCrMo particles at 1050 °C, first in the contact area and then the liquid of eutectic phase was distributed over the surface of Ti6Al4V particles and filled the interparticle pores. Size and sphericity of Ti6Al4V and CoCrMo particles diminished as the volume fraction of eutectic phase increased. After sintering at 1130 °C most of CoCrMo particles disappeared because they react with Ti6Al4V to form the Ti2Co phase. Porosity is reduced 15% mainly by reducing the smaller pores that can be filled by the eutectic phase. Thus, it was concluded that semi-in situ X-ray computed microtomography is an effective tool to investigate the semi-solid state sintering and to analyze the microstructure evolution and densification mechanisms.

The Effect of TiAl6V4 Particles on Tissue in Rats

Electron beam melting (EBM) is three-dimensional (3D) printing technologies that can manufacture multi-functional porous scaffolds with exact structures for the application of surgical operations. In the past decade, thousands of acetabular implants manufactured by EBM or SLM have been designed into acetabular cups with certain porosity for surgical operations. Particles of 3D printed porous Ti6Al4V implants will adhere between sintered interface and non-sintered interface of porous sample during 3D printing. However, the internal excess particles of complex structural parts are difficult to remove. During long-term cyclic loading, stress strain can cause residual Ti6Al4V particles to fall off. These detached Ti6Al4V particles are scattered around the implant and are contact with osteoblasts. In our study, we detected the influence of the differentiation concentration of Ti6Al4V particles on bone of rats. The influence of the differentiation concentration of Ti6Al4V particles on bone was evaluated by distal femoral defects in rats. Micro-CT and biochemical analysis were used to evaluate all of the rats after 12 weeks. Outcomes demonstrated that low concentration Ti6Al4V particles may improve the osteogenesis of SD rat through micro-CT. Serum markers implied that the differentiation concentration of Ti6Al4V particles didn’t influence on hepatic and renal functions. In conclusion, Low-dose residual particle does not induce a decrease in bone mineral density (BMD) of rats.

Effects of different concentrations of TiAl6V4 particles on MC3T3-E1 cells and bone in rats

Three-dimensional (3D)-printed porous Ti6Al4V implants have good mechanical properties and excellent biocompatibility. As such, these implants are widely used in orthopedics. Particles adhere between the sintered and nonsintered interfaces of the porous samples during 3D printing. These excess particles can be cleaned by blowing the particles and via ultrasound, but the excess internal particles of complex structural parts are difficult to remove. During long-term cyclic loading, stress and strain can cause residual Ti6Al4V particles in the pores of the implant to shed. These detached Ti6Al4V particles are in extensive contact with osteoblasts and scattered around the implant. In this study, we examined the effects of different concentrations of Ti6Al4V particles on osteoblasts and bones. MC3T3-E1 cells were used to evaluate the effects of different concentrations of Ti6Al4V particles on cells after 72 ​h on the basis of the expression levels of genes, involving osteopontin, alkaline phosphatase, bone morphogenetic protein-2 and runt-related transcription factor-2. Microtubule-associated protein 1 light chain 3 was used to detect the autophagy of MC3T3-E1 with different concentrations of Ti6Al4V particles. The distal femoral defects of rats were examined to examine bone growth with different concentrations of Ti6Al4V particles. All rats were accepted by micro-CT and biochemical analyses after 12 weeks. The results indicated that 10 and 100 ​μg/ml of Ti6Al4V particles may improve osteogenic differentiation. Micro-CT revealed that low concentrations of Ti6Al4V particles may improve the osteogenesis of the rats. However, the (cortical and trabecular) BMD of middle and high dose groups was no significant change compared with control group. In conclusion, low-dose residual particles do not inhibit osteoblast differentiation and do not decrease the bone mineral density of rats.

Investigation of process by-products during the Selective Laser Melting of Ti6AL4V powder

This paper investigates the formation of process by-products during the laser processing of titanium alloy powders by Selective Laser Melting (SLM). The study was carried out during the printing of Ti6AL4V parts using a production scale SLM system (Renishaw RenAM500 M). By-product particles were obtained on the surface of powder removed from the area around where the pulsed laser powder treatments had been carried out. The process by-products examined in this study were damaged Ti6AL4V particles along with condensate. The particles were found to exhibit deshelling, fracture, and collision damage. Based on TEM and SEM examination, the condensate particles were found to have sizes in the nanoscale range and exhibited morphologies, similar to those reported in the literature for welding condensates. Energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX) analysis indicated that the condensate formed from processing Ti6AL4V, exhibited a higher level of aluminum than that obtained for the alloy itself, lower levels of titanium with minimal vanadium levels, were also obtained. This may indicate that the alloy partially decomposes, with the emission of the lower melting point alloying element. The use of an in-situ melt pool monitoring system (called Renishaw InfiniAM Spectral), was evaluated for detecting the presence of these by-product particulates, based on photodiode measurements of the melt pool emissions, along with a camera-based imaging of visual per layer conditions. A reduction in the intensity of infrared emissions was detected, in areas where suspected spatter particles had been redeposited. Thus, demonstrating that process monitoring can be used for the in-situ detection of particulate defects formed during printing.

In-situ interfacial growth of TiAl intermetallic and its influence on microparticle dislodgement during abrasive wear of Al/Ti6Al4V composite

Aluminium matrix composites reinforced with large Ti6Al4V particles (∼70 μm) were fabricated using friction stir processing. Such particles were selected as reinforcement in order to study the feasibility of their usage for improving wear properties in the abrasive regime despite their large size. Such a proposition is possible if the interfacial bonding between the reinforcement and the matrix is strong enough to prevent dislodgement of the particles. In this work, we show that the interfacial bonding can be enhanced by in-situ intermetallics formed in the solid-state between the matrix and the reinforcement which, in this case, was TiAl. The interfacial TiAl intermetallic had also fragmented into finer particles ranging from 100 nm to 2 μm during the processing due to their brittle nature. A ∼46 % improvement in wear resistance was observed for the composite compared to the unreinforced material due to the presence of both Ti6Al4V and TiAl particles. Scanning electron microscopy images of the worn-out pin cross-section showed that the subsurface crack nucleation and propagation were all away from the particles, thus, exhibiting strong interfacial bonding between the reinforcement and the matrix.

CORR Insights®: Partially Melted Ti6Al4V Particles Increase Bacterial Adhesion and Inhibit Osteogenic Activity on 3D-printed Implants: An In Vitro Study.

CORR Insights®: Partially Melted Ti6Al4V Particles Increase Bacterial Adhesion and Inhibit Osteogenic Activity on 3D-printed Implants: An In Vitro Study.