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Titanium Roughening Process

December 17, 2009

We have Titanium 6Al4V screws which we would like roughened to increase osseointegration. I have read several papers on Sandblasting with Large grit and then Acid-etched (SLA) but can not find any information about this on this website or any shops which would do this work. A google search for "SLA implant" brings up lots of hits though.

As I understand this, the parts can be blasted with 200 um-500 um Al2O3 particles and then etched in an HCl/H2SO4 solution. Is anyone familiar with this process? Is the acid etching phase related to "pickling" or passivation. I would like to be able provide a very specific description that can be followed.

Any suggestions or comments will be greatly appreciated. Thank you.

Baldwin Goodell
enginner - Bozeman, MT, USA
^- Privately contact this inquirer -^

December 22, 2009

There are several ways to activate the surface of titanium implants to create better adhesion yo the bones. One of the methods is called "volcano" and can be obtained by creating special porous oxide layer on the surface. There are other proprietary methods to obtain similar surfaces.

Anna Berkovich
Russamer Lab

Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

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