1. Northwest Institute for Nonferrous Metal Research, Xi’an 710016, China 2. Tangdu Hospital, The Fourth Military Medical University, Xi’an 710038, China
Developing the new titanium alloys with excellent biomechanical compatibility has been an important research direction of surgical implants materials. Present paper summarizes the international researches and developments of biomedical titanium alloys. Aiming at increasing the biomechanical compatibility, it also introduces the exploration and improvement of alloy designing, mechanical processing, microstructure and phase transformation, and finally outlines the directions for scientific research on the biomedical titanium alloys in the future.
Repair or replacement of hard tissues (orthopedics, dental, etc.)
1) good biocompatibility2) appropriate mechanical strength, better processing and working3) specific surface chemistry and microstructure to support bone cell growth and differentiation4) easily combined with other active molecules (bone morphogenetic protein, transforming growth factor, etc.) to ?induce bone growth5) easy to disinfect
Interventional therapy of soft tissues (blood vessel, non vascular)
1) good biocompatibility to avoid immune rejection or corrosion2) slight procoagulant ability, does not cause inflammation and endometrial hyperplasia of vascular wall after ?implantation3) good flexibility, easy to implant4) good expansionary5) strong supporting force6) can be seen under X-ray7) minimum surface connection area
solution treatment above the α+β phase region+ rapid cooling (water or oil quenching)
martensite phase α′ or α′′ etc.
solution treatment below the α+β phase region+ rapid cooling (water or oil quenching)
metastable β and α phase
solution treatment below the α+β phase region+ rapid cooling (water or oil quenching) + aging
secondary α and transferring β phase
Fully β
solution treatment above the recrystallization temperature
β phase
Ti30Mo
Metastable β
solution treatment in the β phase region+ rapid cooling (water or oil quenching)
metastable β, β′ phase etc.
Ti12Mo6Zr2Fe (TMZF), Ti15Mo
solution treatment in the β phase region+ rapid cooling+ aging
secondary α, w phase etc.
solution treatment in the β phase region+ air cooling
metastable β, β′, primary α phase etc.
solution treatment in the β phase region+ air cooling+ aging
primary α, secondary α, β phase etc.
Near β or rich α+β
solution treatment in the β phase region+ rapid cooling (water or oil quenching)
martensite α′ or α′′ phase etc.
Ti13Nb13Zr, TLM, TLE, Ti2448, etc.
solution treatment in the β phase region+ rapid cooling+ aging
primary α, w and β phase etc.
solution treatment in the β phase region+ air cooling
metastable β, primary α phase
solution treatment in the β phase region+ air cooling+ aging
secondary α, w and β phase
solution treatment in the α+β phase region+ rapid cooling or air cooling
martensite α′ or α′′ phase, primary α and transforming β phase etc.
solution treatment in the α+β phase region+ rapid cooling or air cooling+ aging
secondary α and β phase etc.
Tab.5
Fig.1
Heat treatment
Phase
Rp0.2 /MPa
Rm /MPa
A5
E /GPa
Solid solute 750°C × 30 min
β + little α′′
340
645
39
54
Aging for 300°C-400°C (5°C/min)
β + ω
580
780
33
55
Aging for 400°C-450°C (5°C/min)
β + little ω+ little α
370
665
31
51
Aging for 480°C × 4 h
β + α
700
765
23
75
Aging for 510°C × 4 h
β + α
748
868
22
78
Tab.6
Fig.2
Fig.3
Alloy
Materials
Rp0.2 /MPa
Rm /MPa
A /%
Z /%
Grain grade
TC4ELI
Ф0.5 mm (wire, M)
885
1007
7.0
–
A1
TC4ELI
Ф1.0 mm (wire, M)
924
1023
9.6
–
A1
TC4ELI
Ф5 mm (rod, M)
906
1032
13.5
–
A1
TC4
905
1064
13.5
–
A1
TC4ELI
Ф20 mm (rod, M)
943
1011
15
43
A1
TC4
990
1051
11.5
38
A1
TC4
Ф50 mm (rod, M)
911
1006
12.5
41
A3
TC4
Ф60 mm (rod, M)
888
972
14
41
A3
TC4ELI
Ф90 mm (rod, M)
895
966
17.5
49
A3
TC4
1 mm (plate, M)
1005
1095
13.5
–
A2
TC4
25 mm (plate, M)
928
1003
15
–
A5
Tab.7
Fig.4
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