Elastic modulus and in vitro biocompatibility of Ti-xNb and Ti-xTa alloys

The effect of niobium and tantalum on the elastic modulus and the in vitro biocompatibility in binary titanium alloys was studied. The Young's modulus of titanium was effectively lowered with additions of Nb or Th, depending significantly upon the microstructure. Martensitic microstructures such as W and W' decreased the elastic modulus, while the omega phase increased it. Ti-10 %Nb, Ti-30 %Nb and Ti-30 %Ta alloys exhibited very low elastic moduli of 74, 80, and 58 GPa, respectively. The corrosion resistance of Ti-xTa was slightly higher than that of Ti-xNb, which was comparable to that of CP Ti or Ti-6A-4V No ion release was detected in Hank's solution, while Tj ions were released in 0. 1 % lactic acid ranging from 0.03 to 0. 11 mu g/ml for both the Ti-xNb and Ti-xTa alloys. MG63 osteoblast-like cell proliferation on Ti-30 %Ta was less active compared with Ti-30 %Nb, CP Ti or Ti-6A14V.