Summary for titanium cleaning procedure Discussion
Titanium cleaning procedure questions for implantable medical devices drew a cautious response: James Watts said the first step should be to get the manufacturer’s or customer’s specifications, since the application is medical and the requirements matter. Anna Berkovich explained that mechanically polished titanium can be cleaned with concentrated nitric-acid-based solutions to remove organic, iron, and abrasive contamination, but warned that such cleaning will not reach contamination trapped in cracks or hidden defects. She noted that titanium can smear over surface flaws, masking them, and that contamination in those defects could interfere with healing. Anna recommended electropolished titanium instead, saying it avoids those defect-related problems and gives a highly corrosion-resistant surface. In a later question about pitting on CP grade 2 titanium, Anna asked for more details about whether the issue was mechanical polishing or electropolishing. Another contributor suggested a small-part vibratory or two-step dry organic polishing approach, and the original poster later r…
Q. Is there any standard cleaning procedure for titanium casing used in implantable medical devices like pacemaker?
Kim Lucy
Engineer – Stockton, California
April 16, 2009
A. It is certainly correct to ask, but it scares the —– out of me the number of times that it appears. I surely hope that the company that you manufacture it for provides the necessary specifications. If not, whoever you sell it to should be able to provide the needed information.
James Watts
– Navarre, Florida
April 21, 2009
A. There are standard ways of cleaning mechanically polished titanium parts by solutions based on concentrated nitric acid. Such cleaning method removes organic, iron, abrasive material contamination. However if there are any defects on the surface, such cleaning methods will not remove contamination from cracks, holes. Such cracks are not seen after mechanical polishing, due to the fact that since titanium is very soft metal, it is smeared on the surface, covering the cracks, like butter covers bread. However even if the part looks good and polished, there are possibilities that contamination inside the cracks will prevent good healing inside the human body.
Electropolished titanium lack all such problems. Surface after electropolishing is without defects and have super corrosion resistance.
Any medical outsourcing shop can install titanium electropolishing line. Electropolishing system will include simple off-shelf equipment and proprietary electrolyte. Electropolishing process is easy to follow, repeatable and highly reliable.
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Anna Berkovich
Russamer Lab – Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
(ed. update July, 2025: sorry, Anna has retired)
April 22, 2009
Q. Dear Everyone,
Could someone give me some advice on how to polish CP titanium grade 2 (3.7035)? I always have an issue with pitting on the surface after polishing :(=
Ahmad Tarmizi bin Shahuddin
– Perak, Malaysia
May 17, 2013
A. Hi Ahmad. Please give us more info about what you are doing. As for myself, sorry, I can’t tell from your posting whether you are seeking help with mechanical polishing or electropolishing. Thanks.
Regards,
Ted Mooney, P.E.
Striving to live Aloha
finishing.com – Pine Beach, New Jersey
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May 21, 2013
May 22, 2013
Q. Dear Sir,
Our company was doing watch parts which are called pushers and crowns.
Several types of material are used to manufacture these parts such as SS 3.16/3.16L/3.16LM, Ti G2/Ti G5 and some other steels.
FYI, after CNC machining, I have a process which is called troval (vibratory finishing) to smoothen the milling/cutting line after machining (optional process).
Recently I did some test study using e-polish, lapping, mechanical polishing, including sending the parts to external party (Europe & USA), but the result still wasn’t meeting our standard. Pitting was still present on the surface after e-polish/ lapping and became much more visible after mechanical polishing (manual buffing).
Our level of acceptance level for polished parts was mirror finishing no matter SS or Ti.
Please advice whether you have any idea which you can share with me.
I took several years to study on how to polish titanium G2 but the issue still wasn’t solved to this point.
Thanks,
Mizi
Ahmad Tarmizi Bin Shahuddin
– Perak, Malaysia
A. There are several proprietary methods of finishing titanium implants. Depending on your customers acceptance they can be either chemical milling or electropolishing. Electropolishing can be in mild acid-free electrolytes or in more aggressive (but still not as hazardous as standard etching solutions). Chemical milling ( etching) can be also be conducted in less aggressive electrolyte (in comparison to standard HF/Nitric combination).
Electropolishing of titanium implants is the most desirable since it creates the optimal surface quality in terms of bacteria-free, burr-free, corrosion-free.
Anna Berkovich
Russamer Lab – Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
(ed. update July, 2025: sorry, Anna has retired)
May 28, 2013
A. Because your parts are small a mechanical vibratory system might work for you. A 2 step dry organic method might achieve the results you are looking for. I’ve sub-contracted large quantities of S.S. and have gotten good results with two 24 hr cycles using an abrasive and a polishing organic system. I can’t equate this to pieces but it is about between 40 and 50 pounds
AF Kenton
retired business owner – Hatboro, Pennsylvania
June 3, 2013
Dear All,
Thanks for all the comment and your ideas. It’s really good.
I’ve found a way to polish these Ti2 and the result is really fantastic … as I expected :)
Thank you fellows.
Regards,
Mizi,
Ahmad Tarmizi
– Perak Malaysia
June 10, 2013