Implant surface design for improved implant stability - a study on Ti6Al4V dense and cellular structures produced by selective laser melting

Abstract

Focusing on implant surface design, aiming to improve implant primary stability, SLM technology was explored to produce dense and cellular structured Ti6Al4V specimens. The SLM specimens and also a commercial casted/forged Ti6Al4V group, were sandblasted and acid-etched to obtain a moderate surface roughness topography, typically used in implant manufacturing. Ti6Al4V-bone interaction and tribological performance were assessed by performing sliding tests aiming to replicate in some extension the insertion of a hip implant. The results shown a 24 and 32% higher kinetic friction coefficient values when comparing the cellular structures with the conventional casted/forged Ti6Al4V. These friction results together with a high amount of adhered bone are promising evidences of a higher efficiency of Ti6Al4V cellular structures for enhancing implant stability.