Investigating wear performance of surface treated additively manufactured Ti-6Al-4V temporomandibular joint replacement implants

Severe damage to the Temporomandibular Joint (TMJ) may require surgical reconstruction through Total Joint Replacement (TJR) implants. These implants experience progressive tribological degradation over time, which ultimately necessitates revision surgery. Various surface treatments such as oxygen boost diffusion (OBD) and nitride heat treatment of titanium alloy components manufactured using Additive Manufacturing (AM) were investigated to improve wear properties. This study reports preliminary test results, with Pin-on-disc (POD) testing showing clear wear improvements in treated components.