SYMPOSIA PAPER Published: 01 January 1983
STP28947S

Porous Titanium Alloy for Prosthesis Attachment

Source

Void metal composite (VMC) is a porous metal developed to fix a prosthesis to bone by tissue ingrowth. The material is made by techniques which produce structures with controlled porosity, density, and physical properties. The ability to produce a range of structures creates opportunities to study the effects of pore size, shape, and density on bone-metal interface strength.

Ti-6Al-4V is the metal of choice for VMC. This titanium alloy was selected for its corrosion resistance, good mechanical properties, low density, and good tolerance by body tissue. Structures with spherical pore sizes ranging from 275 to 650 μm have been fabricated, with up to 80 percent theoretical densities. Cylindrical pores with controlled direction and arrangement were also produced. The optimum structure for attachment strength seems to be a pore size of 450 μm and 50 percent theoretical density.

Titanium alloy porous implants are well tolerated by body tissue. Intramedullary pins having up to 18 months' implant time and dental implants having 4 years' implant time show development of strong bonds to bone with no adverse tissue reaction.

Author Information

Wheeler, KR
Battelle, Pacific Northwest Laboratories, Richland, Wash.
Karagianes, MT
Battelle, Pacific Northwest Laboratories, Richland, Wash.
Sump, KR
Battelle, Pacific Northwest Laboratories, Richland, Wash.
Price: $25.00
Contact Sales
Related
Reprints and Permissions
Reprints and copyright permissions can be requested through the
Copyright Clearance Center
Details
Developed by Committee: B10
Pages: 241–254
DOI: 10.1520/STP28947S
ISBN-EB: 978-0-8031-4862-8
ISBN-13: 978-0-8031-0241-5