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Friday, August 27, 2004 - 11:10 AM
SES 9B.3

Improvement of Pure Titanium and Titanium Alloys Surface Properties by New Patented LINTERPROCESS Technologies

S. Gugel, SANOVA LLC, Long Island City, NY

Titanium alloys have low density (40% less than steel), high mechanical properties and corrosion resistance, which provide necessary structural efficiency. The biocompatibility of these materials is excellent. However friction and wear of titanium surfaces are very high due to strong metal-to-metal contact, cold welding and low hardness. These factors limit the usage of such prospective metal in biomedical and some other applications. Sanova-Polytech, Inc. has already created and tested positively new, patented Liquid Induction Thermochemical Processing (LINTERPROCESS) and special equipment, which can be used for production of various diffusion protective coatings on titanium alloys. These coatings have different chemical composition, structure and higher microhardness, which are necessary to improve of poor tribological quality of titanium surface. New technologies are simple and inexpensive. Optimum thickness and properties of the sheeting can be obtained during seconds or minutes only and be adjusted as required for special applications. LINTERPROCESS is employing of high-frequency induction heating and cold Liquid Active Medium (LAM), which allows to use any processing temperature and saturate of the titanium alloys by any suitable chemical element for creation of required surface properties. CONCLUSION: Both local and overall, external and internal (in holes) diffusion protective coatings can be created rapidly and inexpensively on the titanium part with any reasonable form, shape or dimensions. The innovative technologies are ready for wide implementation in production of titanium implants with good friction quality and other products. Corresponding equipment can be created quickly.