The use of metal injection molding (MIM) has grown in recent years due to its capability to economicallyproduce complex net-shaped parts in a number of engineering alloy systems. Recent growth of MIM hasbeen particularly successful in medical device markets. Stainless steels are the most common MIM alloysused in medical applications with 17-4PH and 316 stainless steel being used most often. Howeverimplantable medical applications require improved biocompatibility and MRI compatibility over stainlesssteels. In those applications CoCr based and Titanium alloys are desirable and have been used as cast andwrought products with great success. In recent years the MIM community has developed MIM CoCr andTi based alloys to satisfy these applications. This study will discuss recent developments of MIM CoCrand Ti based biomedical alloys for implantable applications. Topics such as alloy powder and bindersystem selection and the effects on feedstock development will be discussed. The effects of keyprocessing parameters used in debinding and sintering operations will be discussed. The resultantmoldability, alloy microstructures, mechanical properties, and biocompatibility will be presented. Theuse of secondary post processes such as heat-treatment, HIP, surface finishing, and sterilization processeswill be discussed along with their effects on properties and applications. This study will also discusstopics related to the commercialization and use of these MIM alloys in biomedical applications asequivalent alternatives to the more common cast or wrought versions of the alloy.
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