3D Printed Titanium Alloys Have Been Widely Used in Clinical Applications

Metal materials for 3D printing include GR5 titanium alloy, aluminum alloy, bronze alloy, nickel alloy, etc. Titanium alloy is the most important link in the 3D printing industry chain of metal parts, and it is also where the greatest value lies. Electrode induction aerosolization method is currently one of the world's major methods for industrial production of titanium alloy powder, and is also the only method for domestic mass industrial production of spherical titanium alloy powder for 3D laser printing.
A few days ago, the Pangang Research Institute of Titanium Metal Technology Institute additive manufacturing project team completed the construction of the argon gas station and atomization equipment matching debugging work. This marks the institute in the 3D printing with spherical titanium alloy powder preparation technology research has made progress in stages, for the spherical titanium and titanium alloy powder industrialized production laid the foundation. The basic principle of aerosolization is the process of using high-speed airflow to break the liquid metal stream into small droplets and solidify into powder. The powder it prepares has the advantages of high purity, low oxygen content, controllable powder particle size, low production cost and high sphericity.

In 2015, Pangang Research Institute of Titanium and Metal Technology Institute began to prepare for the construction of 3D printing with spherical titanium and titanium alloy powder preparation platform; in 2016, completed the basic supporting and installation debugging of the aerosolization equipment; in 2017, through the systematic research, the aerosolization equipment carried out a preliminary transformation, through the aerosolization of the preparation of spherical titanium and titanium alloy powder process, and get the quality and stability of the qualified products, the overall technology and product quality has reached the international advanced level. The overall technology and product quality reached the international advanced level; in 2018, we made a breakthrough in the preparation of spherical titanium alloy powder for laser printing.

In 2019, Mr. Li was examined for right lower gingival cell carcinoma at Wuhan University Stomatology Hospital, and then underwent a partial resection of the right mandible. After the operation, the old man's body recovered relatively well. However, due to the right side of the face collapsed and long-term missing teeth, he could not chew normally, which seriously affected eating. A year and a half later, the old man accompanied by his son came to Wuhan University Stomatological Hospital, hoping that the doctors could repair his right mandible defect. Professor Jia Jun, Deputy Director of Oral, Maxillofacial, Head and Neck Oncology Surgery Department of the hospital, introduced that considering Mr. Li's age and body tolerance, the surgery would be more traumatic and the recovery would be slower in the later stages if autologous bone graft is taken, and the overall cost of the surgery is on the high side. So, Jia Jun introduced to Mr. Li his team's participation in the national key research and development project "3D printing titanium alloy technology", which can be used to repair the right mandible, Mr. Li and his family agreed. 22 April, through the shape, structure, mechanical strength and other aspects of the assessment of 3D printing titanium alloy "" mandible" was transplanted into the jawbone. On April 22, the 3D printed titanium alloy "mandible" was transplanted to Mr. Li's right mandible defect, and the surgery took only two hours. Mr. Li recovered well after the operation and was discharged from the hospital on April 30th. Mr. Li recovered well after the surgery and was discharged from the hospital on April 4. Jia Jun introduced that titanium alloy material has good biocompatibility and can be retained in the body for a long time in the absence of rejection by the human body. This material is often used in hip replacement, spinal vertebrae replacement and dental implants implants. This results in a much shorter surgery time and allows for a more precise and personalized design that provides pain relief for the patient. Can patients regain normal function and their pre-operative state of appearance? According to Jia Jun, restoring the patient's jawbone defect is the first step, allowing for symmetry in the patient's appearance and a normal occlusion of the teeth on the non-lesioned side. At a later stage, the titanium "mandible" will be fitted with dentures to re-establish normal occlusion.