Medical implants play a decisive role in modern medicine and are essential for barrier-free living. Implants improve quality of life in this regard and help sustain life by maintaining or even restoring physical functions. Irrespective of whether they are exceptionally large or microscopically small and even extremely durable, above all, implants need to be biocompatible. If this is not the case, there is a risk of inflammation, and the body will reject the implant. Implants produced using 3D printing can fulfill these requirements, depending on the material used.

Tantalum and niobium alloys: Biocompatible alternatives

Implants come in many types and serve diverse purposes: We make a distinction between dental implants, orthopedic implants, such as joint prostheses or spinal implants, and functional implants, such as those in the inner ear. Each implant must be tailored to the specific patient and their body. Ti-6Al-4V alloys, composed of titanium, aluminum, and vanadium, are currently the most commonly used alloys in orthopedic and dental implants. Over 90 percent of all dental and bone implants are made of this material or pure titanium. This is mainly because the alloy is exceptionally strong and provides excellent corrosion resistance. However, many people’s bodies reject this alloy; about 20 percent of patients treated are unable to tolerate these implants. This leads to infections and inflammations in the individuals concerned, possibly requiring the implant to be removed. Titanium, tantalum, and niobium alloys are much more compatible alternatives. By forming a dense oxide layer on their surface, they create a biocompatible material which is exceptionally strong, ductile, and elastic. As a result, the properties of these alloys closely resemble those of bone. Moreover, additive manufacturing makes it possible to manufacture complex, compatible implants made of tantalum and niobium alloys which can be customized to the patient’s requirements.

Specially developed tantalum and niobium powders can be used in additive manufacturing to produce components which not only withstand high temperatures and offer excellent mechanical properties, but they provide effective resistance to corrosion and oxidization while also being highly biocompatible. Amtrinsic® powders by TANIOBIS comprise spherical, gas-atomized, tantalum- and niobium-based alloy powders with machining properties specially developed for 3D printing. They are suitable for all widely used additive manufacturing technologies – from Laser Beam Powder Bed Fusion (LB-PBF), Electron Beam Powder Bed Fusion (EB-PBF) to Directed Energy Deposition (DED). Customization and adaptability are priorities here, especially in biomedical applications.