Solid metallic implants are much stiffer than bone and can cause stress shielding. A Ti6Al4V bio-inspired lattice called RaLak was laser-powder-bed-fused at 20% and 30% relative density and 2-4-mm cells and compared with gyroid and diamond TPMS. RaLak improved the stiffness-energy-absorption balance; at 30% density and 4-mm cells it absorbed about 50% more energy than gyroid. Its hybrid architecture promoted uniform stress and progressive deformation, and modified Gibson-Ashby models linked geometry to response.
Key findings
- RaLak improved stiffness-absorption balance; at 30% density and 4 mm, absorption was about 50% above gyroid; hybrid geometry distributed stress and collapsed progressively; models enabled tuning.
Why this matters globally
Tunable bone-like modulus and absorption could support load-bearing implants with less stress shielding and patient- or site-specific additive manufacturing.
Thai researcher contribution
Chinnapat Panwisawas of Chulalongkorn University contributes to the design and analysis of an additively manufactured biomaterial lattice.
Limitations to consider
Compression mechanics do not establish implant performance. Million-cycle fatigue, defects, roughness, residual powder, corrosion, osseointegration and animal data are absent. A gain in one geometry may not generalize, and model fits need independent builds.