Characterization of the influence of laser cut surfaces on the fatigue behavior of Ti-6Al-4V-ELI

• Applicant: Professorin Dr.-Ing. Martina Zimmermann
• Subject Area: Biomaterials ; Mechanical Properties of Metallic Materials and their Microstructural Origins
• Term: from 2017 to 2019
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 402380578

The overall goal of the project submitted is a comprehensive experimental analysis of the influence of a laser cutting process on the fatigue behavior of the alloy Ti-6Al-4V-ELI which is a standard alloy used in medical applications, in particular medical implants. Laser cutting is a well-established manufacturing process applied for realizing the many complex geometries nowadays typical for implant structures. One of the major challenges of using laser cutting as the preferred process technology is the influence of the heat-affected zone and the surface quality (burr and surface relief) on the fatigue behavior of implants. In order to identify the major failure relevant effects of the laser cutting surface, samples with and without subsequent surface finish (barrel finishing and mechanical polishing) will be fatigued accompanied by extensive fractographic and metallographic analyses. A comparison of the findings with results for pure titanium and a -Titanium alloy shall clarify the effect of notch sensitivity on the fatigue behavior of Titanium alloys with laser cut surface conditions.

• DFG Programme: Research Grants