Magnetic field assisted finishing process for super-finished Ti alloy implant and its 3D surface characterization

Abstract

Titanium alloy is used in medical industries due to its biocompatibility. Requirement of implant’s surface roughness and surface topography depends mainly upon its application. In the present study, application of titanium alloy is considered as femoral knee joint implant. The capability of magnetic field assisted finishing (MFAF) process and the polishing tool to provide implant worthy surface is analyzed here. In MFAF process, magnetorheological fluid mixed with abrasive powder in acidic base medium is used as the finishing medium. Characterization of the finished surface is carried out by analyzing 3D surface roughness parameters. The selected 3D surface parameters (Sa, Spk, Sk and Svk) are considered due to their importance concerning load-bearing articulating surface of knee joint implant. Statistical design of experiment is used for experimental study and subsequently process parameters are optimized. From experimental investigation, the values of Sa, Spk, Sk and Svk are obtained as 11.32 nm, 15.82 nm, 6.51 nm and 41.15 nm, respectively, at optimum process parameter condition. The optimum process parameter values are 901 rpm of the tool, 0.60-mm working gap and 4.30 hrs of finishing time. The obtained values of 3D surface roughness parameters are in the nanometer range and the surface topography will render better wear properties, performance and longer implant life. Further confirmation experiments support the optimized values. The effect of individual process parameter on output responses is also analyzed.