INTRODUCTION TO PROCESSING OF BIOMATERIALS - Advanced Biomaterials: Fundamentals, Processing, and Applications - page 243

the metal undergoes, it is essential to understand the processing of metals that are
to be used for biomedical applications.
8.3.1.2 Metal Processing [24-26] . Metal processing in the context of bio-
medical implant includes conversion of metal ores, present in earth's crust, into
fi nal implant device through various steps such as extraction of raw metal, form-
ing and casting operation, heat treatment and precipitation hardening, and fi nally
surface fi nishing with or without inert coatings (Figure 8.1).
8.3.1.2.1 PROCESSING OF ORES TO GET RAW METALS. Metals are available in
the earth's crust in an impure form called metal ores. These ores are commonly
present as metal oxides and are often associated with impurities. Water fl ow
and gravity-based separation are used to remove sand and further processing
methods, such as electrostatic separator, extraction, vacuum processing and
remelting, are used to convert the ore into raw metal [24].
Metal deposits
(ore)
Mining,
Ore separation,
Refining of pure metal
Processing of
raw metals
Forming and casting
operations,
Heat treatment and
precipitation hardening
Preliminary
implant device
Surface finishing
Final implant
device
Cleaning,
Quality control,
Packaging
Market
Figure 8.1. Schematic representation of conventional processing pathway of metals.