Aluminum-free low-modulus Ti-C composites that exhibit reduced image artifacts during MRI

Abstract

Feasibility studies were performed to determine the suitability of a novel synthesis technique for fabricating multifunctional composite materials for orthopedic implants. By blending paramagnetic Ti powder with diamagnetic graphite and consolidating the resulting mixtures, Ti-C composites that cannot be feasibly obtained via conventional alloying techniques or ingot metallurgy were synthesized. The synthesized composite material exhibited extremely low magnetic susceptibility (chi = 67.6 x 10(-6)), and, as a result, exhibited fewer artifacts during magnetic resonance imaging. The strength of the composite material (sigma = 770 MPa) was such that it could support external loads to which the human body is subjected, but its Young's modulus was low (E = 81.9 GPa) such that it could mitigate the stress-shielding effect. The material was also free from toxic elements such as Al and V and, thus, can be considered less harmful. (C) 2014 Acta Materialia Inc. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.