Failure of Ti Plates for Oral and Maxillo-facial Surgery

摘要

The failure of titanium bane plates for oral and maxillo-facial surgery during use was investigated. Microstructural examination of a titanium plate revealed the presence of equiaxed α grains and intergranular platelets, which were identified as β phase. Fractographic examination revealed that fracture happened by a transgranular cleavage mechanism associated with secondary intergranular cracking (brittle fracture). Selective attack was observed to occur on the surfaces of the implant. These results indicated that the premature fracture of the miniplate was caused by hydrogen embrittlement.