A Preliminary Study On Mechanical Properties Of Titanium Alloy Specimens Fabricated By Laser Engineered Net Shaping

ObjectiveThe nature of titanium alloy in electrochemical corrosion resistant is strong,being good at biocompatibility.Titanium alloy has lighter quality,low density and high strength what make titanium alloys show good application prospects at stomatology. Laser Engineered Net Shaping technology is a kind of rapid prototyping technology. In this study,the test materials are titanium alloy ball powder which manufacture under LENS and casting technology,testing the mechanical properties,comparing the test results and providing data for improving the materials and technology.At the same time,the test is also a basic pre-clinical testing used in prosthodontics which applying in the production of porcelain crown and bridge base and removable partial denture in the future.Materials and MethodsThe titanium alloy specimens were fabricated from Gas-Atomised spherical titanium alloy powder sized from 200 to 325 mesh by laser engineered net shaping technology.The tensile strength and yield strength in tensile testing,the flexiral module and anti-bend strength in three point bending testing,and the micro-vickers hardness of the titanium alloy specimens were measured and compared with those of another specimens made by wax-lost casting.Observe the microstructures and natural fracture surface of the titanium alloy specimens made by two different process.ResultsThe titanium alloy specimens could be obtained by the method of laser engineered net shaping technology,which has a rapid shaping speed,and has no defect.The tensile strength,yield strength,flexiral module,anti-bend strength and the micro-vickers hardness of the titanium alloy specimens were about 1056.92±61.69N/mm2,62.65±61.91N/mm2,133722.62±3618.18Mpa,2313.42±129.16 Mpa,376.24±14.88.The tensile strength and yield strength of the titanium alloy made by laser engineered net shaping were much better than those made by casting.The optical microscopy showed that the microstructure of the titanium alloy specimens fabricated by laser engineered net shaping is dense and acicular structure distributed uniform at all field.The tensile fractured surface of the titanium alloy specimens fabricated by laser engineered net shaping appeared to be a mass of even dimple,and the fracture mechanism belongs to ductile fracture.ConclusionsThe laser engineered net shaping technology is satisfied for the prosthodontics completely and is better than the mechanics of the traditional casting in some ways. The further study on the forming properties and on the better forming precision will carry out.