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Titanium
vs. Stainless Steel
J.E.I. Metallurgical was asked to conduct laboratory
testing on a sample
of wire mesh that was implanted during a surgical
procedure. An overall view of the wire mesh is shown
in Photograph A.
Photograph A: Overall view of failed wire
mesh.
The mesh in question was
submitted for chemical analysis using energy
dispersive spectroscopy (EDS) in the scanning
electron microscope (SEM).
The area sampled by EDS is
shown in Photograph B. The area in which chemical
analysis was performed is denoted with a black inset
box in Photograph B.
Photograph B: Scanning Electron
Micrograph (SEM) showing area in which chemical
analysis was conducted.
The energy dispersive spectra
obtained is shown in Energy Dispersive Spectra 1. As
can be seen, the EDS spectra only indicates the
presence of titanium (Ti). No spectra peaks were
observed for nickel (Ni) or chromium (Cr) as would
be seen with stainless steel. Thus, the chemical makeup
was determined to be Ti and not stainless steel.
Energy Dispersive Spectra 1
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Dr.
R. Craig Jerner, Ph.D., PE specializes in accident
investigation and metallurgical failure analysis,
with over 30 years experience as a metallurgical
consultant and accident investigator. He has
testified as a metallurgical expert in over 250
depositions and more than 70 court appearances. If you or someone you know should need the services of Dr. Jerner and J.E.I. Metallurgical, please visit our web site at the buttons below, or e-mail Dr. Jerner --- 