Additive manufacturing of Co–Cr alloys for biomedical applications: A concise review

Metal additive manufacturing processes offer unique opportunities for the biomedical industry owing to their ability to produce custom-designed implants with near-net shape and intricate geometry. Co–Cr alloys are among the most popular metallic biomaterials due to their excellent resistance to both corrosion and wear. Several studies have been reported in recent years on studying the processing-structure–property relationships in additively manufactured Co–Cr alloys. However, there is a significant gap in knowledge of critical issues such as the microstructural features and properties of additively manufactured parts as well as the role of the processing parameters and post-manufacturing treatments. The performance of the additively manufactured Co–Cr alloys for biomedical applications such as fatigue, wear, corrosion, and the biological response is poorly characterized as yet. This article presents an overview of the existing literature available on additively manufactured Co–Cr alloys and identifies challenges and opportunities for their use in biomedical implants.