Performance evaluation of a low-cost Ti-Mo-Fe (TMF8) as a replacement for Ti-6Al-4V for internal fixation implants used in mandibular angular fractures: a finite element analysis study

• Published in: Journal of materials science. Materials in medicine 2024-11, Vol.35 (1), p.69-15, Article 69
• Main Authors: Krishnan, Anirudh Venkatraman, Sukanya, Nitin Mathusoothanaperumal, Rahman, Tabishur, Gepreel, Mohamed A. H.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Alloying elements; Alloys; Alloys - chemistry; Biocompatibility; Biocompatible Materials - chemistry; Biomaterials; Biomaterials Synthesis and Characterization; Biomechanics; Biomedical Engineering and Bioengineering; Biomedical materials; Bone biomechanics; Cell proliferation; Ceramics; Chemistry and Materials Science; Composites; Elastic Modulus; Finite Element Analysis; Finite element method; Fracture Fixation, Internal - instrumentation; Fracture Fixation, Internal - methods; Fractures; Glass; Humans; Internal Fixators; Iron; Iron - chemistry; Low cost; Magnesium; Magnesium base alloys; Mandible; Mandibular angle fracture; Mandibular Fractures - surgery; Materials Science; Materials Testing; Mechanical properties; Molybdenum - chemistry; Natural Materials; Performance evaluation; Polymer Sciences; Regenerative Medicine/Tissue Engineering; Skeleton; Stainless steel; Stainless steels; Stress shielding; Stress, Mechanical; Surfaces and Interfaces; Surgical implants; Thin Films; Titanium; Titanium - chemistry; Titanium base alloys; Vanadium
• ISSN: 1573-4838; 0957-4530; 1573-4838
• DOI: 10.1007/s10856-024-06842-7

Stainless steel and titanium-based alloys have been the gold standard when it comes to permanent implants and magnesium-based alloys have been the best option for bioresorbable alloys. Ti-6Al-4V, Ti-64, with its 110 GPa Young’s Modulus is the most commonly employed alloy to manufacture biomedical implants used for treatment of fractures of skeleton. Recently, researchers have developed a new low-cost and toxic Vanadium-free alternative to this alloy, Ti-3Mo-0.5Fe at.%, namely TMF8. This alloy has a 25% lesser Young’s Modulus compared to Ti-6Al-4V and also demonstrated acceptable mechanical properties while possessing better cell proliferation results. The lower Young’s Modulus can aid in lowering stress shielding effects while its cytocompatibility could enhance healing. This work, therefore, tries to use finite element analyses to compare these two alloys (Ti-64 and TMF8) from a practical structural point of view to analyse the advantages and disadvantages of this new alloy and how a low-cost biocompatible alternative (TMF8) can actually prove to be a more viable option. The analyses confirm that TMF8 shows almost similar biomechanics performance to Ti-64 alloy (and in acceptable range) in bone plate fixation of mandibular angular fracture treatment. Graphical Abstract