Additive Manufacturing of Functionally Graded Materials and Shape Memory Alloys with Biomedical Applications

Functionally graded materials (FGM) offer a better alternative than the conventional coating techniques since it eliminates the sudden change in composition between different materials. This project proposes to print FGM biomedical implants using a combination of titanium (Ti) powder and hydroxyapatite (HA) powder. Titanium will offer the required mechanical strength for load-bearing implants, while HA will enhance the biological properties of the implant surface to enhance bone cell attachment. The project will follow a comprehensive approach to cover the gaps in the literature. Firstly, powder mixing of Ti and HA process will be optimized to choose the best mixing parameters and weight percentage of each material. Then more focus will be directed to the laser powder bed fusion (LPBF) process to study the process-structure property relationship, thus choosing the preferred process parameter window. Afterward, the Ti-HA FGM concept will be applied to lattice structures and print novel radial FGM parts that mimic bone geometry and composition. Finally, the static and fatigue properties of the printed FGM parts will be characterized to check if they will withstand the requirements for bone implants.

Faculty Supervisor:

Seshasai Srinivasan

Student:

Hatem Soliman;Mohamed Abdelhafiz;Asmita Chakraborty;Mohamed Balbaa

Partner:

Additive Manufacturing International

Discipline:

Engineering - mechanical

Sector:

Manufacturing

University:

McMaster University