Orthopedics

BÖHLER A220SC is a low carbon, chromium nickel and molybdenum steel. Structure homogeneous, stable austenite. Weldable with analogous filler metal giving fully austenitic deposit. Resistant to intergranular corrosion in the temperature range up to 750°F (400°C). Resistance to acids having a reducing effect, like diluted sulphuric acid and hydrochloric acid is good. The steel is not susceptible to pitting, crevice and stress corrosion cracking in media containing chloride ions and possesses excellent resistance to the attack of urea and biocompatibility. Cold forming properties are good. The steel is capable of taking a mirror finish. The steel is produced as a remelt grade and thus meets the usual requirements for steel purity as specified for implant material.

BÖHLER L035 is a 35-cobalt-35-nickel-20-chromium-10-molybdenum wrought alloy (UNS R30035) used for the production of surgical implants. This alloy composition has been successfully used in human implants. Long-term clinical experience has shown an acceptable biological response. The exceptional properties of BÖHLER L035 result from its chemical composition, high-quality melting technology, cold forming and heat treatment. It is a vacuum induction melted (VIM) and vacuum arc remelted (VAR) superalloy. BÖHLER L035 is a nickel-cobalt based multiphase alloy system with a unique combination of properties e.g. extremely high strength, toughness, ductility and excellent corrosion resistance. The alloy can be strengthened and aged in the factory to achieve strength values of max. 260 to 300 ksi (1793-2086 MPa) and stress corrosion cracking (SCC) resistance even in hydrogen sulphide. The BÖHLER L035 alloy resists pitting and crevice corrosion caused by seawater, chloride solutions and other corrosive environments, e.g. mineral acids (nitric, hydrochloric, sulphuric acid).

BÖHLER L135 is a low carbon cobalt-28chromium-6molybdenum alloy (UNS R31537) known as Alloy 1 of this group of metals in the form of bar and wire, typically used for the manufacture of surgical implants, e.g. endoimplants like hip-joints. The alloy composition covered by this specification has been successfully employed in human implants. Long-term clinical experience has shown an acceptable level of biological response. The alloy shows good corrosion resistance and good fatigue and wear resistance. This alloy is especially applicable for medical implants (endoprothesis and osteosynthesis), wherever high mechanical stress is expected. It is also widely used in micromechanics and watchmaking industries, where hardness, toughness, ductility and corrosion resistance are required. It is non-magnetic.

Bohler L533 is the „Extra Low Interstitials“ version of the classic Ti-6Al-4V alloy with special high purity and lower content of oxygen and iron.

BÖHLER L605 is a wrought cobalt-20chromium-15tungsten-10nickel alloy used for surgical implants. The properties specified apply specifically to wrought bar, rod, wire BÖHLER L605 is a nonmagnetic cobalt-based chromium-tungsten nickel alloy that has excellent corrosion and oxidation resistance, and high strength at both room and elevated temperatures. Usually BÖHLER L605 is supplied solution heat treated and quenched condition to attain optimum properties. Through work hardening, high strength levels can be obtained and BÖHLER L605 can be used in the cold worked and aged condition. Applications include medical implant devices, e.g. stents, springs, valves, and engine components for the aerospace industry. The alloy composition covered by this specification has been successfully employed in human implants. Long-term clinical experience has shown an acceptable level of biological response.

BÖHLER P504 is a wrought nitrogen strengthened 21chromium—10nickel—3manganese—2.5molybdenum stainless steel for surgical implants. It is a highly corrosion resistant non-magnetisable stainless austenitic steel – nitrogen alloyed – resistant to intergranular corrosion. Compared to standard Cr-Ni-Mo steel, it offers increased strength and thus also better fatigue properties. The steel is produced as remelt grade and thus fulfils the usual requirements for steel purity as specified for implant material.

BÖHLER P513 is a weldable, non-magnetic, austenitic stainless steel with resistance to seawater and intercrystalline corrosion. It offers the best abrasion resistance of all stainless steels. The corrosion resistance of BÖHLER P513 is better than that of conventional austenitic Cr-Ni steels (type 304), and even better than Cr-Ni-Mo steel (type 316) under standard test conditions against chloride pitting, stress corrosion cracking and crevice corrosion. BÖHLER P513 is an alloy with a high silicon and manganese content and added nitrogen, which also works well at high temperatures around 1800 ºF. Silicon and manganese prevent wear and scuffing even in the annealed condition. Higher strengths can be achieved by cold forming, but this does not significantly improve abrasion resistance. BÖHLER P513 is used in the aerospace, food and pharmaceutical, oilfield, petrochemical, surgical and chemical industries, e.g. for valve stems and valve seats, fastening systems, shielding, chain drive systems, pins, bushings and roller bearings, wear rings and pistons in pumps.

BÖHLER P558 is a high-nitrogen 11% manganese-17% chromium-3% molybdenum-nickel stainless steel for surgical implants. Its metallurgical requirements include a fine-grained, austenitic microstructure without delta ferrite, low inclusion content, and resistance to intergranular corrosion. BÖHLER P558 also exhibits pitting and crevice corrosion resistance that is significantly better than the reference material in Specification F138 and exceeds the material values ​​specified in Specification F1314 and Specification F1586. Biocompatibility tests for this material have been positive and meet the requirements of the test standards used. The chemical composition of this steel features a high carbon content, along with high nitrogen content. The high carbon content is considered critical in the conventional metallurgy of chromium-nickel stainless steels, but the simultaneous alloying of nitrogen and carbon in BÖHLER P558 has a beneficial effect on the stabilization of the austenitic phase, extends the range of austenite stability to lower solution annealing temperatures, increases corrosion resistance, and leads to better toughness properties.