Hip implant is the most common surgery amongst elderly people. The implant made out of titanium, the hardest metal alloy known lasts on average no more than fifteen years before needing replacement. The second replacement is less successful. The advance age also plays its part and most patients are denied second Op due to poor health. But the new discovery by physicists from Houston University, an alloy of titanium and gold, four times harder than titanium will last a lifetime.
This alloy named Ti3 is so strong that even diamond is unable to grind it. It will also be used in teeth implants and replacement joints in the near future. It will also be widely used in industries, especially in drilling, replacing titanium which was discovered in Cornwall in 1791 by a Clergyman William George that has served humanity well, widely used in medicine as well as in industry.
This new alloy will not turn to ashes when people are cremated. It will be collected and melt down at very high temperature for reuse. This discovery is indeed a blessing for us, although initially it will be costly but with mass production and reuse, the cost will soon come down, especially as patients will not have to undergo a second operation, saving billions to our financially starved NHS.
Kumudini Valambia
By email
