Ti-Cu-Zr-Fe-Sn-Si-Ag-Pd Bulk Metallic Glasses with Potential for Biomedical Applications

Abstract

Ti47Cu38−xZr7.5Fe2.5Sn2Si1Ag2Pdx (x = 1, 2, 3, and 4 atomic percent, at. pct) bulk metallic glasses (BMGs) with potential for biomedical applications were fabricated by copper-mold casting. The Ti-based BMGs exhibited high glass-forming ability (GFA) with critical diameters of 4 to 5 mm and a supercooled liquid region over 50 K, though the high contents of Pd slightly decreased the GFA. The additions of 2 and 3 at. pct Pd benefited the improvement of plasticity, and the resultant BMGs showed the relatively low Young’s modulus of about 100 GPa, high compressive strengths of 2174 to 2340 MPa, and compressive plastic strain of around 4 pct. The addition of Pd also decreased the passive current density and increased the pitting potential of the Ti-based BMGs in the Hank’s solution, leading to the enhanced bio-corrosion resistance of the BMGs. Furthermore, the cell adhesion, viability, and proliferation behaviors revealed that the present Ti-based BMGs possess as good biocompatibility as that of the Ti-6Al-4V alloy. These results demonstrated the potential of the Ti-Cu-Zr-Fe-Sn-Si-Ag-Pd BMGs as biomedical materials.