Cutting a deal for biomedical titanium powder

As it set out to create lasting coatings for its new generation of orthopedic implants, Stryker Corp. conducted a worldwide search to find a powder that would provide optimal longevity and biocompatibility for its devices, finally settling on Raymor Industries wholly-owned subsidiary, AP&C Advanced Powders & Coatings, Inc., to produce its titanium powder.

Using its patented plasma atomization process, AP&C produces biomedical powders of high purity, with exceptional sphericity. Due to the powder's spherical nature, it permits evenly distributed coating for artificial joining, allowing for optimization of the coating porosity, which make tissue growth easier.

Dr, Mihel Drouet, AP&C's Chief Scientist, began in the 1990's to develop work on the plasma atomization process at Hydro-Quebec's Shawinigan Laboratories in collaboration with Noranda. For him the research is paying off through commercialization in the orthopedic implant sector with Stryker, one of the world's three leaders in the field."With this titanium powder, other applications will be commercialized, including the metal injection molding of components for the aerospace sector," says Dr. Drouet. "With our plasma atomization process, we can in fact consider taking a foot-hold in other promising markets with other types of nano-sized and micro-sized metallic powders."