FEASIBILITY STUDY TO DEVELOP MAGNESIUM-BASED MATERIALS TO PRODUCE BIOMEDICAL IMPLANTS AND APPLIANCES FOR TURKEY

Abstract

Recent developments in material science have brought along plenty of innovations in biomedical applications. Specifically, magnesium alloys are potential biodegradable implant materials due to their biomedical properties where their mechanical properties make them attractive candidates for orthopedic applications. In this study, use of magnesium alloys in biomedical applications were examined in terms of material comparison with conventional materials, production methods, production costs and energy consumption to develop alternative materials for Turkey. Furthermore a feasibility study was carried out to produce cortical screws in Turkey which are being currently produced from stainless steels and titanium alloys. The results of the feasibility study have shown that competitive biomedical products could be produced using magnesium alloys and composites when necessary precautions have been taken to eliminate toxicity and control degradation precisely.