University of Gondar

Institute of Technology

Department of Biomedical Engineering

Biomaterials and Implants

Lecture 3: Metallic Biomaterials

Email: mesfin.mihret@uog.edu.et
 Learning Outcomes

 At the end of this lecture, you will be able to

 Identify the properties of metallic biomaterials
 Explain the basic requirement in designing of metallic biomaterials
 identify the typical metallic biomaterials in medical application.
 Metallic Biomaterials

 Physical properties of metals

 luster (shininess)
 Good conductor of heat and electricity
 high density (heavy for size)
 High melting point
 Ductile (most metals can be drawn out into thin wires)
 Malleable (most metals can be hammered into thin sheets)
 Metallic Biomaterials

 Chemical properties of metals

 Easily lose electrons
 surface reactive
 loss of mass (some corrode easily)
• corrosion is gradual wearing away

 change in mechanical properties

 Advantages of Metals

 Metallic properties of materials can provide

 high strength and good toughness
 high resistance to fracture
 long term implant performance in major load-bearing situations
 well-established and widely available fabrication techniques
• casting, forging and machining.
 Disadvantage of Metals

 The main disadvantage of metals

 corrosion due to chemical reaction
 cause metal ion toxicity in the body
 Metallic Biomaterials

 The main criteria in selection of metal based materials for

biomedical applications are their:
 excellent biocompatibility,
 convenient mechanical properties,
 good corrosion resistance, and
 low cost
 Metallic Biomaterials

 Design considerations of metals:

 typically want to match mechanical properties of tissue with
mechanical properties of metal.
 how to consider how the metal can fail in vivo
 corrosion
 wear
 fatigue
 need to consider cost
 Metallic biomaterials

 Design considerations of metals:

 Metals used in medicine

 Metals are widely used as biomaterials due to their

 strength and toughness

 implant metals are generally biocompatible

 stainless steel
 titanium
 cobalt alloy
 Metals used in medicine

 Some people are allergic to ions released from these metals.

 Major problem:
 generation of fine wear particles in service can lead to:
• inflammation and
• implant loosening
 Metals used in medicine

 Stainless steel (most common 316L)

 60-65% iron, 17-19% chromium, 12-14% nickel, > 0.03% carbon and
others.
 low carbon content for better resistance to in vivo corrosion.
 chromium: corrosion resistance by formation of surface oxide
 nickel: increases strength by increasing phase (austenite).
 used as screws and fittings for orthopedics.
 Metals used in medicine

 Stainless steel: commonly used for internal fixation device

with cemented arthroplasty implant.
 without it, the stable oxide layer cannot be formed on the surface of
stainless steel – low biocompatibility.
 Metals used in medicine

 Ti alloys
 light
 good mechanical properties
 good corrosion and fatigue resistance due to

TiO2 solid oxide layer.

 The TiO2 surface can form a bio-liquid layer.
 Commercially pure Ti is used in dental implants.
 Ti-Al-V alloys is widely used for implants and surface-coating
 Metals used in medicine

 Ti alloys application
 Metals used in medicine

 Cobalt based alloys:

 common types for surgical applications
 difficult to process b/c of difficulties in controlling final
microstructure.
 used in both cast and powder pressing + forged conditions.
 excellent wear resistance.
 Metals: corrosion

 Corrosion is continuous degradation of metals to oxide,

hydroxide or other compounds through chemical reactions.

 The human body is an aggressive medium for inducing

corrosion in metals: water, dissolved oxygen, chloride,
hydroxide.
 Metallic biomaterial applications