Typical metal implant materials and the application of laser cladding in their surface modification

In the biomedical field, the commonly used metal implant materials are prone to "stress shielding" because of their mechanical properties and elastic modulus are very different from human bone. The mechanical properties of metal materials are often difficult to maintain in corrosive media and release harmful ions. Nor can it reliably establish a sufficient combination with human bones, resulting in a service life that does not reach the desired goal. Researchers in this field propose to combine the superior mechanical properties of metals with bioactive materials, such as bioactive ceramics and the emerging ferrous glass, and achieve this through surface modification techniques. The laser cladding technique is of great interest for its low dilution rate, high bond strength and fine organisation. This review paper describes the development of common medical metal materials and the research progress of laser cladding surface modification technology.