PROPOSED PROJECT

ON
A STUDY OF BIO-DEGRADABLE ORTHOPEDIC
IMPLANTS:
AN INSIGHT IN MAGNESIUM METAL MATRIX
COMPOSITES
BY
FIDE-AKWUOBI ANTHONY CHIZALU
17/ENG06/037
SUPERVISOR: ENGR. DR. ADEDOTUN O. ADETUNLA
 INTRODUCTION
• Bone fractures and dislocations from physical trauma or osteoporosis are
therapized by re-alignment as bone healing is a natural process.
• The bones are held in place by metals inserted by surgery in form of braces,
intermedullary rods or metal plates and screws throughout the healing process.
• Subsequent to complete healing of the bone, a second surgery which is
undesirable and cost inefficient needs to be undergone to remove the fixation
devices.
• A metal alloy or matrix which can degrade without harm gradually into the
body’s environment after the healing process is sought after to eliminate the
chances of a second surgery.
 ORIENTATION OF THE STUDY
• The use of titanium, platinum and stainless steel as bone implants.
• Magnesium and its properties.
• Combination of magnesium with other metals and manufacturing
processes to alter its properties.
 STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM
• The need for a surgery after the completion of the healing process
to remove the bone implants.
• The rapid degradation of Magnesium alloys used as bone implants
before complete healing.
 BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY
• Metals’ mechanical properties, biocompatibility and
biodegradability.
• Magnesium metal matrix composites.
• Corrosion and degradation rate of Magnesium metal matrix
composites.
 JUSTIFICATION OF THE STUDY
• The justification of this study is associated with the following:
I. Health sustainability.
II. Cost efficiency.
III. Ergonomics of process.
 AIM OF THE STUDY
• The aim of the study is to develop a suitable Magnesium based
metal matrix composite capable of gradually and safely degrading
into the body fluids within the required healing time.
 OBJECTIVES OF THE STUDY
• The objectives of this study are to:
I. Develop a Magnesium based metal matrix composite.
II. Perform a series of tests on the composite to determine
properties.
III. Estimate the lifespan of the implant in the body using
mathematical models and data from tests.
 SCOPE OF THE STUDY
• This study is limited to the design of the metal matrix composites
using AZ31 Magnesium as the base metal and silicon powder as an
additive.
• The study focuses on adults because of they have slower bone
healing rates.
• The study shall be restricted to five tests which include Hardness,
Wear, Corrosion, Bio-degradability and Tensile tests.
• The fluids to be used during testing are limited to Brine, Urine,
Plasma, Muddy water and Palm oil.
• The composite is to be fabricated using Casting method.
 EXPECTED CONTRIBUTION TO
KNOWLEDGE
• Elongation of Magnesium based metal’s life cycles in the
physiological environment.
• Elimination of implant removal surgeries during fracture healing
processes.
 PROPOSED METHODOLOGY
• The proposed methodology of this study shall be divided into
segments which are:
I. Casting of the magnesium based metal matrix composite.
II. Performance of the Hardness, Wear, Tensile, Corrosion and Bio-
degradable tests.
III. Estimation of the composite’s performance using data derived
during testing.