Thermoplastic Net-Shaping of Low-Density and Biocompatible Ti-based Metallic Glasses for Dental Implants – TNT

The approach used here is a global approach to the problem through the different methods of materials science, from elaboration to mechanical and microstructural characterisation but also corrosion behaviour.

The development of thin coatings by PVD sputtering on different silica and zirconia substrates these samples gave rise to a study of the overall classical corrosion of its low TiZrGe thin coatings. The grades had good overall corrosion resistance, but for very high potentials, pitting corrosion was observed.
A parallel work on the Ti-based reference grade, the TiZrCuPd grade, very present in the literature, was carried out in parallel with the previous work. This grade has a small crystalline fraction in the form of spherulites randomly distributed in the manufactured parts. In order to better understand the mechanisms of appearance and their influence on the mechanical and electrochemical properties, a study of the microstructure and a local study of the corrosion behaviour of this grade of solid metallic glass were carried out. Local electrochemical measurements are in progress, we hope to see different behaviours between the potentials of the spherulites and the amorphous. These results should lead to a publication to be submitted in autumn 2020.
Trials for the development of solid parts by suction casting or ribbons by melt spinning are taking place at our Austrian partners, the manufactured parts are not completely amorphous at the moment.
They are working on the binary and ternary diagrams of the constituent elements of the alloy in order to improve the «glass forming ability« and thus the obtaining of solid parts that are totally amorphous and believe that they will be able to manufacture them in ribbon form in the near future.

Translated with www.DeepL.com/Translator (free version)

The prospects are twofold:
. scientific: to better understand the influence of the composition of metallic glasses on their properties and on their biointegration as well as the influence of surface texture
. technological: to propose dental implants that are more resistant and better integrated to improve the life of patients

1 paper in progress

The aim of the present collaborative research project is to investigate and develop novel Ti-based metallic glasses with surface modifications for dental applications. These shall combine biocompatibility, bio-corrosive resistance, good mechanical properties and particularly thermoplastic formability in the SCLR in order to achieve antimicrobial and/or tissue-integrative properties.
In order to achieve this goal four main scientific milestones are targeted:
1) Developing a novel Ti-based biocompatible MG with enhanced (micro)patterning kinetics via optimizing the formability parameter S.
2) Development of appropriate routes to achieve low density, low elastic modulus and high Poisson’s ratio which functions as an excellent stress-shielding material in daily use.
3) Production and tuning of surface patterns (threads or anchoring sites) with improved antimicrobial/osseointegrative properties.
4) Investigation and understanding the mechanisms of cell adhesion, bactericidal adhesion and biocorrosion.

The final target of this project is to develop a biocompatible Ti-based metallic glass implant with modulated topography which can promote the cellular response from initial attachment and migration to differentiation and production of new tissue without the need of exogenous growth factors. Together with the lowered cost by the addition of metalloids/abundant metals which in turn increases the glass forming ability, these cutting edge advanced alloys can open a new avenue for tough and bioresistant implants which do not cause antibiofouling, and assist the selective growth of dental pulp stem and epithelial cells.