In orthopedic and maxillofacial surgery, medical titanium plates are extremely useful. As a device implanted in the human body, the mechanical properties of medical titanium plates are related to surgical results and patient recovery.
The importance of the mechanical properties of medical titanium plates
Medical titanium plates are used to fix fractures, assist bone healing, or reshape maxillofacial structures. The human body's physiological environment is complex, and titanium plates have to withstand dynamic and static mechanical loads. the mechanical properties of medical titanium plates can ensure that titanium plates do not deform or break, stably support bones, promote fracture healing, reduce postoperative complications, and help patients recover.
Key mechanical performance indicators of medical titanium plates
- Strength
Strength is a key indicator. It determines the ability of titanium plates to withstand external forces without permanent deformation or fracture. In the daily activities of patients, bones are subjected to various forces, such as muscle contraction and limb weight bearing during fracture healing. Titanium plates need high strength to maintain the stability of the fracture site, prevent displacement, and create conditions for bone repair. The tensile strength of medical pure titanium plates is about 200-400MPa, while that of titanium alloy plates can reach 600 - 1200MPa.
- Toughness
Toughness allows titanium plates to absorb energy when subjected to impact loads without brittle fracture. Accidental collisions are inevitable in life. Titanium plates have good toughness. When impacted, they rely on their deformation to buffer energy, continue to play a fixed supporting role, and avoid fracture and damage to surrounding tissues.
- Fatigue performance
The human skeleton is subjected to dynamic changes in daily activities, and the titanium plate is subjected to periodic stress. If the fatigue performance is poor, cracks are likely to appear at the stress concentration point after a period of use and expand to fracture, which is very dangerous. After alloying and process optimization, the fatigue life of titanium plates can be improved to meet the needs of long-term use.
- Hardness
Hardness reflects the ability of titanium plates to resist local deformation. During surgery, titanium plates and bone screws are used together, and the hardness should be moderate. If it is too soft, the bone screws are prone to excessive deformation when tightened, affecting fixation; if it is too hard, the operation is difficult and may damage the bones. The hardness of general medical titanium plates is 100-300 HB.
Understanding the mechanical properties of medical titanium plates can help doctors choose the right products and provide better treatment for patients.
