Healthcare Materials

Medical implants require materials that simultaneously meet stringent mechanical, biological and functional requirements. Titanium and zirconium alloys have potential due to a low elastic modulus and excellent biocompatibility. These alloys are particularly promising for orthodontic and orthopaedic applications, where they could address critical issues of stress shielding and aseptic loosening that account for over a quarter of implant failures in conventional devices. Our research focuses on understanding the behaviour of these materials, including the formation, stability and mechanical implications of the ω phase in both Ti- and Zr-based systems.