Titanium for medical devices

Titanium is used in medical technology for three reasons that are rarely all needed at once: low density, excellent corrosion resistance and osseointegration — the ability to bond firmly with bone. For implants, commercially pure titanium grades 1 to 4 per ISO 5832-2 and the alloy Ti-6Al-4V ELI per ISO 5832-3 apply; ELI stands for extra low interstitials and denotes a quality with low oxygen and nitrogen content that is tougher and less crack-sensitive.

In manufacturing, titanium is demanding. Poor thermal conductivity means process heat is barely carried away, chips tend to stick, and the material tends to cold-weld to the tool. This calls for sharp cutting edges, low cutting speeds with high feed rates and ample cooling — and it explains why titanium parts look different in a costing than stainless steel ones.

For buyers, besides alloy and inspection certificate, the surface matters most. Anodising serves not only to colour-code instruments but strengthens the oxide layer; blasting, etching and coating markedly change how bone tissue attaches. Two implants made from the same material can behave very differently in terms of ingrowth.