Analysis of machined electron beam treated Ti6Al4V-ELI implant surfaces

Brno University of Technology, Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, Brno, 61669, Czech Republic

Adv. Mater. Lett., 2019, 10 (6), pp 381-385

DOI: 10.5185/amlett.2019.2229

Publication Date (Web): Jan 19, 2019

Copyright © IAAM-VBRI Press

E-mail: piska@fme.vutbr.cz

Abstract

This work contributes to the problem of individual replacements of human joints by applying new types of implants and materials, made using modern additive technologies (melting of metal powders by laser and electron beam). The main attention is paid to the method called Electron Beam Melting used with the ARCAM Q10plus machine. Analyses of the sintered Ti6Al4V - ELI alloy samples were made from the point of view of production precision and quality after sintering in different technological modes and the surface quality reached after turning and tumbling, including measurement of other physical quantities. The results confirm an important effect of sample inclination in the chamber when building on the precision of the shape and quality of the surface. The tensile strengths were high (up to 1,012 MPa) and statistically consistent. Furthermore, the material exhibited high resistance to machining, expressed in terms of force loading and specific cutting forces, measured for a range of feed per rotation 0.05-0.40mm, cutting speed 48 m/min, depth of cut 1.0 mm and use of coated cemented carbides, in dry cutting conditions. Nevertheless, high quality after machining can be reached. The quality can be improved more by two-steps tumbling technology so finally, a glossy surfaces (Ra< 0.036 um) with high material ratios (Abbot-Firestone curves) and convenient tribological properties were found. Ongoing research is focused on studies of milling and belt grinding technology and fatigue properties in tensile R 0.1 mode of loading.

Keywords

Titanium, EBM, cutting, surface, mechanical properties.