UMinho Technology

UMinho Technology

The general objective of this project is to seed-fund the most critical research, and promote additional identified needs to support further development of the magnesium scientific infrastructure in Portugal and Europe, thereby enabling more advanced medical devices applications of magnesium. This will be one aspect of the technology transfer deliverables of the Ultrasonic-Microcasting Technology (UMTechnology) for the manufacturing of biodegradable Mg alloys components used in medical devices.

The main specific goal and innovation of the research program is to develop a reliable, low-cost and environmentally friend manufacturing process of Mg-based biodegradable stents by computer aided designed for a pre-established life time inside the human body, according to the patient needs/clinical situation and metabolism, capable to eliminate traditional casting defects and simultaneously promote the development of ultra-refined microstructures and high corrosion resistance components. The induction melting process will be down scaled to the desired size and physically combined with ultra-efficient ultrasonic vibration to improve the component properties and mould filling, which is a totally new approach to casting of Mg alloys. The process will be applied and validated using different Mg-based alloys and FEA will be used to optimize the stent design and mould filling capability. Corrosion properties will inherently be improved by ultrasonic grain refinement, but alternative or even complementary techniques like microarc oxidation may also be evaluated, if necessary.