Investigating Fiber Laser Marking Parameters for Titanium Alloy to Enhanced Orthopaedic Implants Traceability and Corrosion Resistance

Rakesh Kumar*
Periodicity:July - September'2024

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) biocompatible material which offers superior strength-to-weight ratio, better resistance against corrosion, light in weight, but is costlier. Grade 5 titanium alloys, in particular, form a passive oxide layer (mostly titanium dioxide, TiO₂) on their surface that offers superior resistance to corrosion. But some circumstances may weaken this layer or cause particular kinds of corrosion such as Chloride Stress Corrosion Cracking (due to certain chemical processes or saltwater), Pitting corrosion (creates small holes in materials), Galvanic corrosion (titanium is in contact with a dissimilar metal in the existence of an electrolyte). Thus due to high-temperature saline environments, corrosion can weaken the material and lower its fatigue strength. Hence, selection of optimum laser parameters during marking is a method for controlling the corrosion. In this research article, used different laser making parameter (power, speed and frequency) based upon orthogonal array L9 and finally, best combination of parameters were selected for different device system (Screw, Plates, Nail, Hip prosthesis) for orthopaedic application. In addition, the study of elemental analysis before & after laser marking is performed, to know whether change of element %age of material or not/to confirm whether the elemental percentage are within acceptable limit as per ISO 5832-3.  Apart from this, Potassium Ferricyanide-Nitric Acid Test (blue point test) as per ASTM standard A967/A967M − 17 was performed, after laser marking to examine the effect  laser penetration in a laser marking area to examine the corrosion.

Keywords

Implants, Laser Marking, Titanium Alloy, Ferricyanide-Nitric Acid Test, Medical Devices, Wet Test.

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