Investigating Fiber Laser Marking Parameters for Titanium Alloy to Enhance Orthopaedic Implant Traceability and Corrosion Resistance

Rakesh Kumar*
Department of Quality Assurance and Regulatory Affairs, Kaushik Orthopaedic Pvt. Ltd., Sonipat, Haryana, India.
Periodicity:July - September'2024
DOI : https://doi.org/10.26634/jme.14.3.21281

Abstract

Corrosion poses a significant threat to medical devices, compromising their structural integrity, functionality, and biocompatibility, which can lead to device failure, patient injury, and even life-threatening complications. This investigation used titanium alloy (Grade 5), a biocompatible material that offers a superior strength-to-weight ratio, better resistance against corrosion, and is lightweight but costlier. Grade 5 titanium alloys, in particular, form a passive oxide layer (mostly titanium dioxide, TiO₂ ) on their surface, providing superior resistance to corrosion. However, certain circumstances can weaken this layer or cause specific types of corrosion, such as chloride stress corrosion. Cracking (due to certain chemical processes or saltwater), pitting corrosion (which creates small holes in materials), and galvanic corrosion (when titanium is in contact with a dissimilar metal in the presence of an electrolyte) can occur. Due to high- temperature saline environments, corrosion can weaken the material and lower its fatigue strength. Therefore, selecting optimal laser parameters during marking is a method for controlling corrosion. In this research article, different laser marking parameters (power, speed, and frequency) were applied based on the orthogonal array L9, and the best combination of parameters was selected for different device systems (screws, plates, nails, and hip prostheses) for orthopedic applications. Elemental analysis before and after laser marking was performed to determine whether the percentage of elements in the material changed and to confirm whether the elemental percentages remained within acceptable limits. Furthermore, the potassium ferricyanide-nitric acid test (blue point test) was conducted after laser marking to examine the effect of laser penetration in the marked area and assess its impact on corrosion.

Keywords

Laser Marking, Titanium Alloy, Medical Devices, Orthopedic Applications, Corrosion, Grade 5 Titanium.

How to Cite this Article?

Kumar, R. (2024). Investigating Fiber Laser Marking Parameters for Titanium Alloy to Enhance Orthopaedic Implant Traceability and Corrosion Resistance. i-manager’s Journal on Mechanical Engineering, 14(3), 31-37. https://doi.org/10.26634/jme.14.3.21281

References

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