What this plate is for
Broken bones need to stay straight while they heal. Screws go through the plate into the bone. The plate holds everything in place.
Titanium bone plate is what surgeons use. Not steel. Titanium.
Why? Titanium doesn't corrode inside the body. It's biocompatible. Bone grows right up to it. And it's lighter than steel implants.
Distal radius. Tibial plateau. Femur. Humerus. Spine. Cranium. Anywhere a bone breaks and needs hardware.
Why titanium, not steel
Steel implants work. But steel is heavy. Density 7.8 g/cm³. And steel can corrode in some patients over time.
Titanium is 4.5 g/cm³. Almost half the weight. The oxide layer is bioactive - bone likes it.
Titanium bone plate also has better fatigue life in the body. No corrosion. No metal ion release concerns with pure titanium and ELI alloy.
For long-term implants, titanium is the standard.
| Grade | Material | Best for |
| Grade 23 ELI | Ti-6Al-4V | High strength. Small plates. Thin plates. Trauma. Spine. |
| Grade 4 | CP Titanium | Medium strength. Cranium. Maxillofacial. |
| Grade 2 | CP Titanium | Low stress. Animal implants. Prototypes. |
Which grade for bone plates
- Grade 23 ELI is the workhorse. Tensile 860 MPa. Used for most trauma plates - forearm, ankle, femur. Thin. Strong.
- Grade 4 is pure titanium. Tensile 550 MPa. Used for cranial plates. Skull doesn't see high stress. Grade 4 is easier to contour during surgery.
- Grade 2 is softer. Tensile 345 MPa. Used for veterinary plates or low-stress applications.
For titanium bone plate, Grade 23 ELI covers most human trauma. Grade 4 for cranial and maxillofacial.
Technical specs (Grade 23 ELI)
| Property | Value |
| Standard | ASTM F136 |
| Tensile (min) | 860 MPa |
| Yield (min) | 795 MPa |
| Elongation | ≥ 10% |
| Density | 4.43 g/cm³ |
| Hardness | ~34 HRC |
Common plate dimensions
| Application | Thick (mm) | Width (mm) | Hole spacing |
| Small fragment (hand, foot) | 0.8 – 1.5 | 4 – 8 | 7 – 10mm |
| Medium (forearm, ankle) | 1.5 – 2.5 | 8 – 12 | 10 – 13mm |
| Large (femur, tibia) | 2.5 – 4.0 | 12 – 18 | 13 – 16mm |
| Locking plates | 3.0 – 5.0 | 10 – 20 | Variable |
| Cranial | 0.6 – 1.5 | 5 – 15 | Variable |
Where these plates go
A trauma surgeon opens the fracture site. Reduces the bone. Puts titanium bone plate across the break. Drills. Measures. Screws it in.
- Distal radius. Wrist fractures. Very common. Thin plates. 1.0mm to 1.5mm thick. Locking or non-locking.
- Ankle. Fibula plates. 2.0mm to 2.5mm. Needs strength. Patient walks on it.
- Tibial plateau. Knee area. Thicker plates. 3.0mm to 4.0mm. High load.
- Femur. Thigh bone. Big plates. 4.0mm to 5.0mm. Locking screws.
- Spine. Anterior cervical plates. Thin. Precision holes. Screw locking mechanism.
- Cranium. Skull plates. Mesh or solid. Grade 4 pure titanium. Easier to bend during surgery.
- Maxillofacial. Jaw and face. Small plates. Contoured. Cosmetic outcome matters.
- Each plate starts as titanium bone plate stock. Waterjet or laser cut. CNC drilled. Deburred. Finished. Sterilized. Packaged.
Locking vs non-locking plates
Locking plates have threaded screw holes. The screw locks into the plate. Creates a fixed-angle construct.
Non-locking plates use standard screws. Compression across the fracture.
Titanium bone plate can be made either way. Locking plates need thicker material. More threads. Tighter tolerances.
Most trauma plates today are locking. Better for weak bone. Osteoporotic patients. Comminuted fractures.
Surface finish for bone plates
- Implants have surface requirements. Tissue contact. No contamination.
- Polished. Ra ≤ 0.2μm. Smooth. Bright. Resists bacterial adhesion.
- Anodized. Color finish. Blue, gold, purple, green. Voltage controls color. Anodizing thickens the oxide layer. Improves wear resistance. Helps identify implant type.
- Sandblasted. Matte finish. Used for bone-contact surfaces. Promotes bone growth. Increased surface area.
- For titanium bone plate, anodized is common. Color coding by size. Blue for small fragment. Gold for large. Helps surgeons pick the right plate quickly.
Traceability and certification
Bone plates are medical devices. Class II or III. Full traceability required.
Every titanium bone plate blank comes with:
- Heat number. Mill test report. ASTM F136 or F67 cert. Mechanical test results. Surface finish report.
- We supply plate stock. You machine, finish, sterilize. Your FDA or CE mark applies to your finished device.
For OEM plate manufacturers, we provide material certs with every shipment. EN 10204 3.1 standard. 3.2 available with third-party witness.
Fabrication into finished plates
- Bone plate manufacturing is precise. Tolerances in microns.
- Waterjet or laser cut the shape. Laser is cleaner. Smaller kerf. No burrs.
- CNC drill the holes. Countersink or thread for locking screws. Hole position tolerance ±0.05mm.
- Deburr. All edges. No sharp corners. Soft tissue irritation.
- Passivate per ASTM F86. Removes free iron. Restores oxide layer.
- Final clean. Ultrasonic. Detergent. Rinse. Dry.
- Sterilize. Gamma or EtO.
For titanium bone plate, we supply cut-to-shape blanks. Deburred. Passivated. Ready for your final QC and sterilization. Many OEMs take this option.
FAQ
Q: Grade 23 ELI or Grade 4 for trauma plates?
A: Grade 23 ELI. Higher strength. Thinner plates possible. For cranial, Grade 4 is fine. Lower stress environment.
Q: What certifications come with the plate stock?
A: MTR with heat number. ASTM F136 or F67 cert. Mechanicals. EN 10204 3.1. 3.2 available.
Q: Lead time for bone plate stock?
A: Stock thicknesses (1.0mm, 1.5mm, 2.0mm, 2.5mm, 3.0mm) ship in 7-10 days with paperwork. Non-stock sizes take 3-5 weeks.
Q: What about anodizing?
A: We offer anodizing. Blue, gold, purple, green. Specify color. Anodizing adds 3-5 days.
The bottom line
Bone plates hold fractures together while bones heal. They need to be strong, biocompatible, and corrosion-free.
Titanium bone plate gives you that. Grade 23 ELI for trauma. Grade 4 for cranial.
Clean. Strong. Traceable.
From distal radius to femur. From cranial to spine. This is the material.
Contact us
Need a quote on titanium bone plate? Send grade, thickness, width, length, quantity, and any finishing requirements (anodized, polished, etc.). Include your drawing if you need cut shapes. We'll reply within 24 hours.
Email: shawn@mt-titanium.com
WhatsApp: +86-18220745501
Hot Tags: titanium bone plate, China titanium bone plate manufacturers, suppliers, factory, Craniofacial Reconstruction Titanium Plate ASTM F67, medical titanium plate, Medical Titanium Plate ASTM F136 Orthopedic Implants, Minimally Invasive Surgery Titanium Fixation Plate, Orthopedic Trauma Titanium Plate, Titanium Implant Plate
