Since September, under the leadership of Professor Jacek Grabarczyk, research has been ongoing as part of the project.
Since September, under the leadership of Professor Jacek Grabarczyk, research has been ongoing as part of the project “Cleaning and Bioactivation of 3D-Printed Titanium for Biomedical Applications” at the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering (FENG) of the Lodz University of Technology.
Since September, under the leadership of Professor Jacek Grabarczyk, research has been ongoing as part of the project “Cleaning and Bioactivation of 3D-Printed Titanium for Biomedical Applications” at the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering (FENG) of the Lodz University of Technology. The project was submitted in competition No. 1/2023 and falls under Action 2.7 Proof of Concept, Priority 2: Environment Favorable to Innovation, within the European Funds for Modern Economy 2021-2027 program.
The project aims to address the challenges associated with 3D-printed titanium alloys (specifically Ti6Al4V) used for medical implants. The additive manufacturing technology, specifically selective laser melting (SLM), results in printed structures that require post-processing to remove process residues and poorly bonded powder particles from the surface. These residual powders can act as contaminants, potentially detaching within the patient’s body and adversely affecting the biological response to the implant material. Currently, wet chemical etching is commonly used for surface cleaning. However, this method has drawbacks, including its aggressive nature, which leads to significant mass loss and excessive surface smoothing. These effects can weaken the mechanical properties of the printed structures and may negatively impact osteointegration.
The project proposes a shift from the prevalent single-stage cleaning process for 3D-printed structures to a three-stage process. For more detailed information, you can visit the project’s website