Towards durable hip prostheses: investigating corrosion-fatigue of Ti-6Al-4V alloy in simulating physiological environment

Department

Departments of  Engineering and Applied Sciences/ Dipartimento di Ingegneria e Scienza Applicat (DISA) at University of Bergamo

Main research activities/topics/projects

Brazil is experiencing a steady increase in longevity, with the average life expectancy now exceeding 76 years, and a rapid rise in centenarians and supercentenarians. This demographic shift makes Brazil a key hub for ageing research. An ageing population faces higher risks of osteoarthritis (coxarthrosis) and trauma, which cause severe pain and functional limitations, profoundly affecting daily life. Hip arthroplasty is one of the most effective interventions, restoring mobility and improving overall health and well-being. However, the increasing lifespan of patients places greater demands on prosthesis durability, particularly for femoral neck, which can fail under long-term fretting and environmental stress. Corrosive conditions inside the human body, combined with synergistic cyclic loading, can lead to corrosion-fatigue, compromising implant longevity. On the other hand, the corrosion-fatigue of additively manufactured devices is not well studied. This project focuses on the Ti-6Al-4V titanium alloy obtained by laser powder bed fusion, investigating its behaviour under corrosion fatigue in environments that closely simulate real conditions. The findings will provide critical insights to enhance the lifespan and reliability of hip implants in ageing populations.

Working language

Italian and English

Duration in months (min-max)

PhD sandwich: 3-12

Post Doc: 3- 12