Mechanical Properties of Sintered Ti-6Al-4V Alloy Using Metal Injection Molding Method

Abstract

Although dental implant bodies are currently cut by machine to the appropriate shape, this method is not suitable for those with a complicated morphology. One way to overcome this problem is the metal injection molding method (MIM), which is considered to yield excellent results as a method to produce large amounts of identical, morphologically precise products. In this study, using Ti-6Al-4V alloy powder, whose use as a material for implant bodies is increasing, we produced test specimens by MIM and evaluated their characteristics.
The tensile strength of Ti-6Al-4V wire rods was 57 MPa higher than that of MIM specimens. The proof stress was 45 MPa higher in the MIM specimens. Elongation was 9% greater in the wire rods than in the MIM specimens. Hardness was greater in the MIM specimens than in the wire rods. As a result of observing the metal structure, the test specimens produced using the MIM showed pores during sintering. The MIM specimens had sufficient mechanical properties according to the JIS standard, and thus the MIM method is thought to be suitable as an implant material.