Abstract
Titanium and its alloys currently are used as implants, possessing excellent mechanical properties (more suited than stainless steel and Co-Cr alloys), good corrosion resistance and good biocompatibility. The titanium alloy used for most biomedical applications is Ti-6Al-4V, however, studies showed that vanadium and aluminum cause allergic reactions in human tissues and neurological disorders. New titanium alloys without the presence of these elements are being studied. The objective of this study was to analyze the influence of thermomechanical treatments, such as hot-rolling, annealing and solution treatment in the structure, microstructure and mechanical properties of the Ti-25Ta-Zr ternary alloy system. The structural and microstructural analyses were performed using X-ray diffraction, as well as optical, scanning and transmission electron microscopy. The mechanical properties were analyzed using microhardness and Young’s modulus measurements. The results showed that the structure of the materials and the mechanical properties are influenced by the different thermal treatments: rapid cooling treatments (hot-rolling and solubilization) induced the formation of α” and β phases, while the treatments with slow cooling (annealing) induced the formation of martensite phases. Alloys in the hot-rolled and solubilized conditions have better mechanical properties results, such as low elastic modulus, due to retention of the β phase in these alloys.
Highlights
The first alloy developed for use in humans is known as “vanadium steel (1900)”, a biomaterial produced for repairing bone fractures and for fixation screws used in orthopedics [1].Currently, elements such as chromium, tantalum, zirconium, cobalt, titanium, niobium, tungsten, iron and nickel are used as biomaterials, the human body tolerates these elements only in small quantities [2]
The results showed that the alloys produced are of β-type and have elastic modulus like commercially pure titanium and Ti-6Al-4V (109-130 GPa)
The X-ray diffractograms and optical and scanning electron microscope (SEM) micrographs for Ti-25Ta-Zr system alloys after hot-rolling are shown in Figure 1; after annealing and with slow cooling in Figure 2; and in Figure 3, the results for samples subjected to annealing with fast cooling, are presented
Summary
The first alloy developed for use in humans is known as “vanadium steel (1900)”, a biomaterial produced for repairing bone fractures and for fixation screws used in orthopedics [1]. Elements such as chromium, tantalum, zirconium, cobalt, titanium, niobium, tungsten, iron and nickel are used as biomaterials, the human body tolerates these elements only in small quantities [2]. Materials developed for use as biomaterials must possess certain favorable physical and chemical characteristics and must not induce inflammation, toxic reactions or allergenic symptoms in the host. New alloys are being developed and investigated whose microstructure and mechanical properties can be altered with the addition of various elements, usually β-stabilizers [11,12,13,14,15,16]
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