doi: 10.3850/978-981-11-0749-8_742
Combining Metal Injection Moulding and Polymer Over Moulding for the Production of Orthopaedic Implants
Tobias Mueller1, Leonardo Santos Machado1, Martin Philipp-Pichler2, Thomas Wilfinger3, Wolfgang Wittner4, Manfred Prantl5 and Steffen G. Scholz1
1 Institute for Applied Computer Science, Karlsruhe Institute of Technology, Karlsruhe, Germany
2 RHP Technology GmbH, Austria
3 Wittmann Battenfeld GmbH, Kottingbrunn, Austria
4 Ernst Wittner Ges. m. b. H., Wien, Austria
5 Alicona Imaging GmbH, Raaba, Austria
Abstract
Medical implants with functionalized surfaces for enhanced cell growth are currently investigated by a variety of research groups. Due to the materials needed for an implantation with as little complications as possible rather costly materials have to be used for the parts. One way to produce such parts more affordable is to apply a mass-manufacturing technique like injection moulding. In case of this study a metal bone fixing screw, produced by powder injection moulding, has been overmoulded with a very thin layer of biodegradable polymer to enhance cell adhesion during the healing process. The main challenges were to achieve a thin, defect-free structured polymer layer with good adhesion to the metal screw and to ensure a high and consistent implant quality by controlling the injection process.
Keywords: Medical Implants, Over moulding, Micro injection moulding, Process optimization.
