Al₂O₃-Ti functionally graded material prepared by spark plasma sintering for orthopaedic applications

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Biomaterials Engineering
• Orthopaedic Research

Background:

• Orthopaedic prostheses have limited lifespans due to biomaterial vulnerability.
• Single-constituent materials are prone to failure, necessitating advanced solutions.
• Hybrid materials like composites and FGMs are explored to enhance biomaterial performance.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the structural, physical, and mechanical properties of alumina-titanium functionally graded materials (FGMs).
• To fabricate and characterize alumina-titanium composites and FGMs using spark plasma sintering (SPS).
• To evaluate the impact of titanium content on FGM properties and fracture mechanisms.

Main Methods:

• Fabrication of alumina-titanium composites and FGMs via spark plasma sintering (SPS).
• Microstructural analysis using X-ray diffraction (XRD) to identify phases.
• Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) for phase and layer adhesion assessment.
• Mechanical testing including hardness and bending strength measurements.

Main Results:

• X-ray diffraction confirmed the presence of Ti₃Al and TiAl phases, increasing with titanium content.
• Scanning electron micrographs showed good adhesion between alumina and titanium phases and FGM layers.
• Hardness and bending strength decreased monotonically with increasing titanium volume fraction.

Conclusions:

• Alumina-titanium FGMs fabricated by SPS exhibit promising structural and bonding characteristics.
• The trade-off between titanium content and mechanical properties (hardness, bending strength) was clearly demonstrated.
• Further research into optimizing FGM composition is needed for improved orthopaedic implant longevity.