Novel Ti-Nb alloys with improved wear resistance for biomedical implant application

Abstract

The present study involved fabrication of titanium niobium based alloys having elastic modulus close to that of human bone and subsequently determining the wear resistance of these alloys for biomedical application. In the present study three beta stabilized titanium niobium alloys having composition Ti-24Nb-4Zr-8Sn, Ti-35Nb-4Sn and Ti-29Nb-13Ta-7Zr were made by vacuum arc melting. The alloys were then aged at 1000 C for 6 hours in an argon atmosphere. Detailed microstructural characterization and phase identification was carried out using scanning electron microscopy and x-ray diffraction respectively. The hardness of the samples were measured by micro hardness measurements. The wear resistance and the friction coefficient of the samples were measured by testing in Ringer's solution (simulated body fluid). The results showed improved wear resistance of the fabricated alloys.