The rapid advancement of materials science has revolutionized total hip arthroplasty (THA), a critical orthopedic procedure aimed at restoring mobility and improving patient quality of life. This review investigates the evolution of biomaterials used in THA, analyzing their mechanical, biological, and chemical properties. The study outlines the transition from early natural materials to modern metals, polymers, and ceramics, highlighting their benefits and limitations in clinical applications. Particular emphasis is placed on the development of advanced materials such as highly cross-linked polyethylene (HXLPE), zirconia-toughened alumina (ZTA), and tantalum alloys (Ta), which demonstrate enhanced biocompatibility, wear resistance, and longevity. By examining emerging trends, including bioactive coatings and nanotechnology, this paper aims to provide a comprehensive understanding of current challenges and future directions in material selection for hip prostheses, ultimately aiming to minimize annual revision rates and improve long-term outcomes.

Laser surface texturing (LST) is increasingly adopted to functionalize the surface in injection molding, enabling the control of interfacial and tribological phenomena without altering bulk material properties. While most studies have focused on mold cavities, the functionalization of ejection system components remains largely unexplored, despite its critical role in part release and process stability. This work presents a preliminary investigation of laser surface texturing for cylindrical ejector pins to promote lubricant retention at the pin–mold interface. A parametric study was first carried out on a flat to define a process window compliant with the maximum allowable groove depth constraint (20 µm). Based on this campaign, a stable ablation regime was identified and transferred to cylindrical ejector pins, where textures were fabricated along axial length. Different micro-texture geometries and spatial distributions were designed to generate controlled micro-reservoirs for lubricant retention. The textured surfaces were characterized in terms of groove depth, morphology and uniformity, confirming the feasibility of producing shallow and well-defined features within industrial constraints. The preliminary results demonstrate the technical feasibility of laser texturing on cylindrical ejector pins and its potential to modify the pin–mold interface. However, the comparative effectiveness of the different texture geometries in promoting lubricant retention will be further evaluated under extended service conditions. The study, therefore, establishes the basis for the functional optimization of textured ejection systems in injection molding applications.

In the global transition towards renewable energy, a leading role is played by photovoltaic (PV) technologies. However, the increasing growth of installed PV panels, together with the rise of the number of modules reaching their end-of-life phase, make the sustainable management of electronic waste a crucial aspect. The reduction of energy consumption and polluting emissions and the maximization of material recovery represent the ultimate purpose of demanufacturing processes. Here, cryogenic delamination is proposed as an innovative strategy, as it exploits the thermal and mechanical properties of PV module constituents to achieve the cleanest possible separation of layers, allowing for the recovery of strategic materials (silicon, aluminium, silver, copper). This work aims to combine experimental and numerical approaches in order to obtain a comprehensive understanding of the fundamental mechanisms governing the process: the overall objective is represented by the process optimization to enable the exploration of various operating conditions without the need for costly and time-intensive experimental campaigns and, ultimately, the implementation of such technology at the industrial scale.

The use of cutting fluids in machining is crucial for optimizing process performance. In light of increasing environmental regulations, there is growing scrutiny on the role of cutting fluids in manufacturing processes. The adoption of environmentally-friendly approaches in metal cutting holds significant economic, social and technological implications. This paper focuses on the milling operation of a non-conventional material, such as Ti-alloy, from an environmental perspective, examining the material removal process across various performance aspects. Specifically, three different cooling conditions - wet, Minimal Quantity Lubrication (MQL), and dry - are assessed. Additionally, for each coolant condition, a range of process parameters, including cutting speed and feed rate, are considered to evaluate their impact on the overall environmental performance of the operation.

Drilling of Fiber Metal Laminates (FMLs) is a very important manufacturing operation, as the metal-composite layered structure tends to undergo delamination, burrs, and dimensional errors. Although to date research work has mainly focused on cutting conditions, drilling tools, and lubrication methods for improved performance, the role of surface engineering on metal sheets prior to laminate fabrication has not received significant consideration. In this study, the effect of the variation of feed rate values during the drilling operation of FMLs with laser-textured titanium sheets is examined. Specifically, prior to FML consolidation, a unidirectional pattern with spacing characteristics of 200 µm was created on the titanium sheets; then, drilling tests using twist drill bits were carried out at a fixed cutting speed while varying the feed rate on two levels. The results show that a higher feed rate value induces both greater thrust force – and therefore improved adhesion resistance at the interface between the various materials of the multilayer – and a deterioration in the surface quality of the hole, increasing the occurrence of fiber pull-out and metal transfer phenomena.

Laser surface texturing (LST) is an effective technique for tailoring the surface properties of Ti6Al4V alloy, widely employed in biomedical applications where surface topography plays a key role in osseointegration and functional performance. Nevertheless, the strong nonlinear relationship between laser process parameters and resulting surface roughness still limits predictive control of laser-textured surfaces. This work presents an experimental study aimed at investigating the influence of laser surface texturing parameters on the surface morphology of Ti6Al4V. Key process variables, including laser power, scanning speed, pulse frequency, pulse duration and overlap percentage are systematically varied using a fiber laser system. The textured surfaces are characterized through three-dimensional surface roughness parameters, namely Sa, Sz, Sku, Svk, and Ssk, providing a detailed quantitative description of surface topography relevant for biomedical applications. The resulting experimental dataset represents a fundamental basis for the subsequent development of artificial intelligence models, based on neural networks, for predicting surface roughness parameters as a function of laser processing conditions. The proposed approach supports data-driven optimization of laser surface texturing processes within intelligent and sustainable manufacturing frameworks.