Products that are to be approved for use in humans are subject to the most stringent requirements. Among others, they must not corrode and must often be radiopaque for use. All of this depends on the selection of the right materials. One of LWT's research focuses is therefore on the optimization of structural materials, research in the field of new functional layers and the characterization of innovative construction designs for use in medical technology.
Furthermore, alloying elements such as nickel and cobalt are increasingly becoming the focus of regulatory restrictions due to medical concerns. However, nickel and cobalt have so far been central alloying constituents, especially in commercially available implant materials such as nickel-titanium alloys, CoCr implant alloys or corrosion-resistant steels. Here, the LWT is researching possible substitute materials on the one hand, and metal ion and radiopaque coatings on the other.
Current research projects address:

• Ni-free, superelastic and radiopaque beta titanium alloys.
• X-ray visible and ion dense metal coatings
• Ni-free, high-strength and corrosion-resistant steels (also in PM and AM)
• Surface modifications of intracranial implant systems