Characterizing effects of hydrogen ingress in Ti-Mg based hybrid implant materials

Hybrid implants consisting of a permanent Ti-based part combined with a degradable Mg part, are promising solutions to design superior implants by combining the advantages of both materials. In these implants Ti provides high strength while a degradable Mg part is used for temporary structural support, bone growth stimulation or drug delivery purpose. As Mg degrades hydrogen gas is released which can ingress into the Ti part, leading to changes in its properties. The profile of hydrogen distribution is a critical parameter for mechanical stability of Ti, especially in long-term applications. To investigate this in microscopic length scale, Ti6Al4V-Mg0.6Zn0.5Ca hybrid samples prepared using metal injection molding were subjected to saline degradation for a period of 0 to 120 hours. Neutron tomography, synchrotron X-ray tomography and diffraction, SEM and gas fusion technique were used to study the ingress of hydrogen in 3D after the degradation of MgZnCa. A uniform distribution of hydrogen was seen radially while the profile along height matched with macroscopic measurements. Synchrotron XRD confirmed that the room temperature diffusion of hydrogen led to lattice expansion of the BCC β-phase in Ti6Al4V, while no hydride phases were present.