Tailor-mode composites based on titanium for medical devices

For special advanced applications in medicine biomaterials can be tailor-ma de as composites if a single material is not able to fulfill the various re quirements. In most cases a functional surface layer, which may have the re quired physical, mechanical, or biological properties, covers a structural material: titanium and its alloys for preference. Three classes of composit es based on titanium materials offer special properties: Ti/porous Ti compo sites have special mechanical properties for isoelastic implants; Ti/cerami c composites show special biological properties used for improved osseointe gration of the implants; and the special physical properties of Ti/ceramic composites makes them suitable for heart pacemaker leads.