Design and characterization of selective laser-melted Ti6Al4V-5Cu alloy for dental implants

Ti6Al4V-5Cu alloys have potential biomedical applications due to their adequate antibacterial properties. However, the wear and corrosion properties of these alloys are also crucial for dental implants. In the present study, Ti6Al4V-5Cu alloys were fabricated by selective laser melting (SLM). The microstructure and composition of Ti6Al4V-5Cu alloys by SLM were evaluated. The wear properties of the alloys in the simulated saliva environment and the atmospheric environment, as well as the electrochemical properties in the simulated saliva environment, were systematically investigated. The results showed that the crystal structure of Ti6Al4V-5Cu alloys was mainly composed of alpha-Ti and Ti2Cu. In the SLM process, no preferred texture was observed due to the complex direction of the heat flux. The formation of Ti2Cu can improve the strength of the material and make the titanium copper alloy have higher microhardness. Ti6Al4V-5Cu alloy showed a satisfactory wear resistance in both wear media. The addition of Cu reduced the second-phase content of the alloy. Meanwhile, the number of microcells was reduced, which was a positive factor to improve the corrosion resistance of the alloys.