Metal Implants

Metals are generally hard, opaque , shiny, malleable , ductile , and conductive materials. The organization of the atoms in the solid is generally a closed pack surrounded by others, having crystal structures as body-centered cubic (bcc), face-centered cubic (fcc), or hexagonal close-packed (hcp). Outer shell electrons are delocalized, free to move and form a kind of cloud around atoms. Meanwhile, atoms stay together due to the electrostatic interactions created among one another. This kind of bond is called a metallic bond. Since the outer shell electrons are not strongly bonded to the total structure, metals can easily lose them in chemical reactions and form cations. Electrostatic interactions among cations and anions form salts that are soluble in aqueous media. Metals can form alloys by treating them with other metallic elements. The main purpose of forming alloys is to enhance some properties of the metal, such as making it less brittle, harder, more resistant to corrosion, or to have a more desirable color and luster.