Heat treatment of Ti6Al4V alloy fabricated by selective laser melting (SLM) for medical implant: A comprehensive review
Selective Laser Melting (SLM), an advanced method of 3D metal printing, has been increasingly applied to make industrial-grade products for several industries. Its utilization in the domain of medical implants exhibits significant potential, as the complicated design and optimized geometrical config...
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| Main Authors: | , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Elsevier
2025-05-01
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| Series: | Journal of Materials Research and Technology |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2238785425009652 |
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| Summary: | Selective Laser Melting (SLM), an advanced method of 3D metal printing, has been increasingly applied to make industrial-grade products for several industries. Its utilization in the domain of medical implants exhibits significant potential, as the complicated design and optimized geometrical configurations of porous implants effectively address the challenges associated with stress shielding and reduced rejection rates pertinent to the application of medical implants within the human body. Heat treatment is crucial for improving the mechanical characteristics of Ti6Al4V alloys produced through SLM methodology. Methods such as stress relieving, annealing, solution treatment and aging are used to improve mechanical properties by minimizing residual stresses, decreasing porosities, and forming desirable phases. These treatments notably alter the alloy’s microstructure, changing it from a brittle alpha-prime (α′) martensitic phase to a more ductility mixture of alpha plus beta (α＋β), which is essential for enhancing fatigue strength and fracture toughness. Furthermore, advanced methods such as HIP and vacuum heat treatment further refine the microstructure, enhancing the resistance of material to crack propagation and initiation. This paper provides a thorough review of heat treatment methods to improve material properties of SLM-printed medical implant components. The review also analyzes and correlates the relationship between parameters such as temperature, holding time, cooling rates on the microstructure and mechanical properties of SLM-printed Ti6Al4V. A primary contribution is the development of a novel Heat Treatment Map for Medical Implants (HTMMI), a visual tool that helps researcher to quickly select a potential heat treatment process for each type of medical implant. In addition, this paper also suggests potential future research directions for heat treatment of Ti6Al4V for medical implants. |
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| ISSN: | 2238-7854 |