title: Aluminum-free low-modulus Ti-C composites that exhibit reduced image artifacts during MRI.
abstract: Feasibility studies were performed to determine the suitability of a novel synthesis technique for fabricating multifunctional composite materials for orthopedic implants. By blending paramagnetic Ti powder with diamagnetic graphite and consolidating the resulting mixtures, Ti-C composites that cannot be feasibly obtained via conventional alloying techniques or ingot metallurgy were synthesized. The synthesized composite material exhibited extremely low magnetic susceptibility (χ=67.6×10(-6)), and, as a result, exhibited fewer artifacts during magnetic resonance imaging. The strength of the composite material (σ=770MPa) was such that it could support external loads to which the human body is subjected, but its Young's modulus was low (E=81.9 GPa) such that it could mitigate the stress-shielding effect. The material was also free from toxic elements such as Al and V and, thus, can be considered less harmful.
authors.affiliation: Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Korea University, Seoul 136-713, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Sung-Chul
authors.initials: SC
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Korea University, Seoul 136-713, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Hong-Jun
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Korea University, Seoul 136-713, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Seong-Guk
authors.initials: SG
authors.lastname: Son
authors.affiliation: Center for Biomaterials, Biomedical Research Institute, Korea Institute of Science and Technology, Seoul 136-791, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Hyun-Kwang
authors.initials: HK
authors.lastname: Seok
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopedic Surgery, ASAN Medical Center, Seoul 138-736, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Kang-Sik
authors.initials: KS
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: Eco-materials & Processing Department, Korea Institute of Industrial Technology, Incheon 406-840, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Seung-Young
authors.initials: SY
authors.lastname: Shin
authors.affiliation: Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Korea University, Seoul 136-713, Republic of Korea. Electronic address: jclee001@korea.ac.kr.
authors.forename: Jae-Chul
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Lee
mesh_terms: D016477:Artifacts; D002244:Carbon / Q000737:chemistry*; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods*; D008855:Microscopy, Electron, Scanning; D014025:Titanium / Q000737:chemistry*
chemical_list: D002244:Carbon; D014025:Titanium
keywords: Biocompatibility; Composite; Magnetic resonance imaging; Mechanical property; Powder processing