Recent advancements in the production of titanium alloy investment castings have enabled manufacturers to offer high-integrity net-shape components. Effective material utilization and attractive lead times for providing a finished product have fostered a growing interest in applying cast titanium technology to the production of surgical implant devices.

Howmet Turbine Components Corp., a major producer of titanium castings for the aerospace industry, is currently evaluating the potential of investment cast Ti-6Al-4V ELI alloy [ASTM Specification for Titanium 6Al-4V ELI Alloy for Surgical Implant Applications (F 136-79)] for surgical implant devices. Manufacturing processes such as hot isostatic pressing (HIP) and weld repair, vital to production of net-shape titanium alloy castings, have been evaluated for cast Ti-6Al-4V ELI material. Smooth and notched tensile properties, as well as impact and fatigue strength, have been investigated with favorable results.