Effect of Heat Treatment on Osteoblast Performance and Bactericidal Behavior of Ti6Al4V(ELI)-3at.%Cu Fabricated by Laser Powder Bed Fusion.

Cu addition to alloys for biomedical applications has been of great interest to reduce bacterial growth. In situ-alloyed Ti6Al4V(ELI)-3at.%Cu was successfully manufactured by laser powder bed fusion (L-PBF).

Roughness and Near-Surface Porosity of Unsupported Overhangs Produced by High-Speed Laser Powder Bed Fusion.

Laser powder bed fusion (LPBF) is a promising technology that requires further work to improve productivity to be adopted more widely. One possible approach is to increase the laser power and scan speed. A customized high-speed and high-power LPBF system has been developed for this purpose.

In Vitro Characterization of In Situ Alloyed Ti6Al4V(ELI)-3 at.% Cu Obtained by Laser Powder Bed Fusion.

The intensive cytotoxicity of pure copper is effectively kills bacteria, but it can compromise cellular behavior, so a rational balance must be found for Cu-loaded implants. In the present study, the individual and combined effect of surface composition and roughness on osteoblast cell behavior of in situ alloyed Ti6Al4V(ELI)-3 at.% Cu obtained by laser powder bed fusion was studied.

Mechanical Properties and In Situ Deformation Imaging of Microlattices Manufactured by Laser Based Powder Bed Fusion.

This paper reports on the production and mechanical properties of Ti6Al4V microlattice structures with strut thickness nearing the single-track width of the laser-based powder bed fusion (LPBF) system used. Besides providing new information on the mechanical properties and manufacturability of such thin-strut lattices, this paper also reports on the in situ deformation imaging of microlattice structures with six unit cells in every direction. LPBF lattices are of interest for medical implants due to the possibility of creating structures with an elastic modulus close to that of the bones and small pore sizes that allow effective osseointegration.

Analyzing nature's protective design: The glyptodont body armor.

Many animal species evolved some form of body armor, such as scales of fish and bony plates or osteoderms of reptiles. Although a protective function is often taken for granted, recent studies show that body armor might comprise multiple functionalities and is shaped by trade-offs among these functionalities. Hence, despite the fact that natural body armor might serve as bio-inspiration for the development of artificial protective materials, focussing on model systems in which body armor serves a solely protective function might be pivotal.

Functionalization of Biomedical Ti6Al4V via In Situ Alloying by Cu during Laser Powder Bed Fusion Manufacturing.

The modern medical industry successfully utilizes Laser Powder Bed Fusion (LPBF) to manufacture complex custom implants. Ti6Al4V is one of the most commonly used biocompatible alloys. In surgery practice, infection at the bone-implant interface is one of the key reasons for implant failure.