Topological design and microstructural control of Additively manufactured Ti-6Al-4V Lattices for biomedical implants

Additively manufactured structures are inherently anisotropic due to the layered nature of the process that result in the formation of inter-layer defects and a preferred crystallographic orientation due to the epitaxial growth along the build direction. Lattice structures suffer from a further anisotropy associated with the arrangement of the struts or features in 3D. In this work, the utility of topological design and microstructural control in Laser Powder Bed Fusion (L-PBF) of Ti-6Al-4V Triply Periodic Minimal Surface (TPMS) lattice structures is assessed to control the levels of anisotropy. The study will highlight the potential for achieving near isotropic properties in additively manufactured lattice structures through tailored topological and microstructural control as means of improving the structural and functional requirements of biomedical orthopaedic implants.