Improvement in Mechanical Performance of Biomaterial Ti Alloy by Controlling Volume Fraction of Martensite Phase

Abstract

Recently, biomaterial α + β type Ti alloys with relatively low Young’s modulus and high specific strength have been widely used all over the world. Martensite (M) phase in α + β type Ti alloy has been reported to improve the toughness and ductility, therefore, there is high possibility of improvement in the mechanical properties easily by controlling the volume fraction of M phase. In this study, the change in mechanical properties of α + β type Ti-6Al-7Nb (Ti67) with various volume fractions of M phase were systematically investigated through the various heat treatments and thermo-mechanical treatments. Microstructures of Ti67 subjected to ST at 1173 K to 1273 K below the temperature of β transus were composed of martensite and primary α phases. The volume fraction of M phase increased with an increase in ST temperature. Tensile strength increased simply with an increase in the volume fraction of M phase, while the elongation, reduction of area and Young’s modulus showed a reverse trend. Fatigue limit of Ti67 subjected to ST at 1243K showed the highest value of 880 MPa.