Characterization of the Ti-10Nb-10Zr-5Ta Alloy for Biomedical Applications. Part 1: Microstructure, Mechanical Properties, and Corrosion Resistance

Ti-10Nb-10Zr-5Ta alloy was investigated as possible material candidate for replacing Ti6Al4V in medical applications. The alloy was prepared in a levitation melting furnace and characterized in terms of elemental and phase composition, microstructure, mechanical properties, and corrosion resistance in simulated body fluid and Fusayama Meyer artificial saliva solutions. The characteristics of the new alloy were compared to those of the Ti6Al4V alloy. The Ti-10Nb-10Zr-5Ta system was found to posses of a polyhedral structure consisting in α′ and β phases. X-ray structural analysis revealed a mixture of hexagonal α′ martensite (main phase, with grain size of about 21 nm) and β bcc phase. The Ti-10Nb-10Zr-5Ta alloy exhibited some better mechanical properties (Young modulus, tensile properties) and corrosion resistance (polarization resistance, corrosion current density, and corrosion rate), as compared to Ti6Al4V alloy.