Metal Additive Manufacturing Conference - MAMC 2021

The use of bioresorbable materials for orthopaedic devices allows the sparing of the second (removal) surgery and could enhance bone regeneration mechanisms. One promising candidate from the biodegradable metals is Magnesium (Mg) as it comprises several advantages: degradability within the human body, high biocompatibility as Mg is part of our daily nutrition system and mechanical properties similar to those of human cortical bone, thus avoiding stress shielding. Bone ingrowth can be enhanced by complex lattice-like structures, only feasible by additive manufacturing. Magnesium-Yttrium-Rare Earth (Mg-Y-RE) alloy, originating from aviation industry, showed good biocompatibility and therefore was utilised in this study.

The influences of Laser Powder Bed Fusion process parameters, powder storage conditions and tensile specimen design on the mechanical behaviour were investigated. Density measurements by microscopy of cross sections were carried out for several parameter sets to identify suitable process parameters. Three sets of suitable process parameters were further investigated for their mechanical properties by means of standard tensile specimens. Additionally, we introduced a novel tensile scaffold specimen design, representing a geometry closer to a real case application and allowing to apply the process parameters for scaffold manufacturing. Finally, we compared our results to a corresponding FE-Analysis of uniaxial tensile test.