Speaker
Description
Hybrid implants that combine a permanent Ti-based component with a degradable Mg-part offer a promising strategy for advanced biomedical applications. This design combines the high strength and long-term stability of titanium with the temporary structural support, bone growth stimulation, and potential drug delivery functions of magnesium. During degradation, Mg releases hydrogen gas, which can diffuse into the Ti matrix and alter its properties. The distribution of hydrogen within Ti is therefore a key factor in determining the long-term mechanical stability of such implants.
To investigate this at the microscopic scale, Ti6Al4V–Mg0.6Zn0.5Ca hybrid samples produced by metal injection molding were subjected to saline degradation for up to 120 hours. Hydrogen ingress was analyzed using neutron tomography, synchrotron X-ray tomography and diffraction, SEM, and the gas fusion method. Results revealed a radially uniform hydrogen distribution, while the axial profile correlated well with macroscopic measurements.
