Seminar on Mg scaffolds fabricated by power bed laser fusion for orthopaedic applications

21 Feb 2022 11.00 AM - 12.30 PM LT 19 (N2-B2A-01, North Spine, Entrance at Car Park Level 1) Current Students, Public

Professor Javier LLorca
 
Department of Materials Science, Polytechnic University of Madrid, 28040 Madrid, Spain

IMDEA Materials Institute, C/Eric Kandel 2, Getafe, Madrid, 28906, Spain

This seminar will be chaired by Prof Upadrasta Ramamurty.
Seminar Abstract

Magnesium alloys exhibit promising properties as bone implant materials due to their biodegradability, non-toxicity and mechanical properties. Compared to steel and Ti, Mg implants can be fully re-absorbed by the human body and the mechanical properties are similar to that of the bones and do not lead to stress shielding. Porous scaffolds are ideal structures for bone regeneration as they allow tissue growth, prevent implant loosening and permit body fluid transportation. However, such structures are difficult to obtain by conventional manufacturing methods, but can be processed by additive manufacturing strategies.  Lattice structures of Mg-RE alloys with different strut sizes and lattice geometry were manufactured by laser powder bed fusion process and modified by thermal treatments. Surface modification by means of plasma electrolytic oxidation was carried out to reduce the corrosion rate and improve cytocompatibility. The relationship between processing conditions and the microstructure was carefully analysed by means of X-ray µtomography, scanning electron microscopy and electron-backscatter diffraction as well as transmission electron microscopy. The mechanical properties and the fracture mechanisms were ascertained by means of in situ compression tests within an X-ray µtomography system in lattices that have been immersed in simulated body fluid for different time periods. Additionally, in-vitro biocompatibility studies were also conducted. Moreover, the corrosion processes were simulated by means of the finite element to ascertain the evolution of the mechanical properties of the scaffold with time in simulated body fluids. Overalls, these results present of the state-of-the-art on the current development of Mg scaffolds manufactured by laser power bed fusion for orthopaedic applications.

Speaker’s Biography​

Prof. Javier LLorca is scientific director and founder of the IMDEA Materials Institute and professor and head of the research group on “Advanced Structural Materials and Nanomaterials” at the Polytechnic University of Madrid.  A Fulbright scholar, he is Fellow of the European Mechanics Society and of the Materials Research Society, member of the Academia Europaea and has held visiting positions at Brown University, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Indian Institute of Science and China Central South University. His current research interests – within the framework of Integrated Computational Materials Engineering – are aimed at the design of advanced materials for engineering applications in transport, health care (implants) as well as energy (catalysis), so new materials can be designed, tested and optimized in silico before they are actually manufactured in the laboratory.

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