Three Key Points of Surface Roughness Control of Medical Titanium Alloys

The company's focus is on the three key areas of surface roughness control: machining parameters, post-processing, and inspection.Keywords include titanium alloy processing for medical use, surface treatment techniques, and methods for optimizing surface roughness.

Why is surface roughness so important for medical-grade titanium?

We all know that titanium alloys are often used in orthopedic implants and dental instruments, and that surface roughness directly affects the material's ability to bond with human tissue.If the surface is too smooth, it will affect the attachment of bone cells, and if it is too rough, it is easy for bacteria to grow on it.So it's an art to get the "right amount" of salt.

The first key point is to control the processing parameters.

Don't let speed and feed rates hold you back.

When machining titanium alloys, high speeds can easily lead to surface burning, while too much feed can lead to burrs.Our tests show that low speed with a large depth of cut and a moderate feed rate can guarantee machining efficiency while keeping surface roughness in the 'gold' range of Ra 0.8-1.6 microns.

The hidden role of coolant.

Many people think that coolant is just used to reduce heat, but it has a great effect on the quality of the surface. I suggest using a water-based emulsion. Not only can it effectively remove heat, but it can also form a protective film on the surface of the material being processed, which reduces the occurrence of micro-cracks.

Second, the advanced techniques of post-processing.

Sand blasting is not something you can just do haphazardly.

Selecting the right abrasive is key to sandblasting titanium alloys for medical applications.Glass is gentler than aluminum oxide, and can remove processing traces without making the surface overly rough.The pressure was controlled between 0.3 and 0.5 MPa, and the distance between the two was kept at 10-15 cm. This combination was found to be effective.

The time for acid washing is a mystery.

Don't think that acid-washing formulas are all the same. If you vary the soaking time by a few seconds, the result will be completely different.He suggests first trying a small piece, and when the surface is evenly matte, take it out immediately. Don't be greedy!

Point three: Testing and dynamic adjustment.

Don't rely on a single test.

While contact profilometers are highly accurate, they're not very suitable for measuring curved surfaces.When used in conjunction with a laser three-dimensional profiler, it can measure the numerical values of the surface texture and also see the distribution of the surface texture.

Establishing their own parameter database.

Each time we process a product, we record all the parameters, test results, and usage conditions.After some time, you discover that the optimal surface roughness for different types of instruments has its own 'character.' This experience is more useful than a textbook.

He concludes, "Controlling surface roughness is like cooking. You can't just follow the recipe, and you can't just rely on your feelings either.You have to experiment and calibrate your equipment regularly to find the "sweet spot" for your products.