ANALYSIS OF THE WELDING RECONDITIONING POSSIBILITIES OF MEDICAL PROSTHESIS

Abstract

Improper development of primary manufacturing processes can cause defects in finished products. The paper presents a comparative analysis of two reconditioning technologies used for an interlocking intramedullary nail type prosthesis, made of titanium alloy Ti-6Al-4V, using Tungsten Inert Gas (TIG) welding. Based on the results obtained for the first reconditioning technology, the second technology was developed. By modifying the joint's shape and the welding current used in the first reconditioning technology, resulted a proper joint in terms of operating characteristics. After analyzing the results obtained it can be stated that welding reconditioning technologies can be a reliable solution for technological loss caused by defects occurred in the manufacturing process of medical prosthesis.

Keywords

• reconditioning
• welding
• medical prosthesis
• titanium alloys