Characterization of Ti-40Ta Alloy Synthesized by Laser Deposition with Potential Use as Biomaterial

Abstract:

Titanium and its alloys are commonly used for biomedical implants and therefore should have good biocompatibility, suitable levels of strength, fracture toughness, fatigue resistance, and low elastic modulus. Alloying Ti with β-stabilizing elements (Ta, Mo, Nb and V) allows obtaining alloys with elastic modulus closer to that of bone (10-30 GPa), thus minimizing the tendency for stress shielding and bone resorption. A combinatorial method, based on variable composition laser-assisted deposition, has been used for synthesizing Ti-Ta alloys. The alloys were characterized in composition and microstructure by XRD, SEM, and EDS, and mechanical properties were assessed using depth-sensing ultramicroindentation tests. As the Ta content increases from 3 wt% to 36 wt%, the elastic modulus of the alloys decreases from 120 GPa to about 45 Gpa, corresponding to a region formed of the predominant α” (orthorhombic) phase. The lowest value of elastic modulus (45 GPa) was obtained for the Ti-36Ta (wt%) alloy, which is considerably lower than those of commercial Ti alloys currently used (above 110 GPa). Based on these results, volumetric samples of Ti-40Ta alloy were produced by laser deposition, presenting the predominance of the α” (orthorhombic) phase, elastic modulus as (80±12) GPa, and nanohardness as (4.2±0.6) GPa with H_it/E_it equal to 0.052±0.015, which reinforces the viability of using this composition with potential application as a biomaterial.

• Periodical: Defect and Diffusion Forum (Volume 445)
• Pages: 133-142
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.4028/p-Qps1EO
• Online since: December 2025
• Authors: Romualdo Emilio, Cícero Junior Rodrigues Lustosa, Amélia Almeida, Odila Florêncio*
• Keywords: Biomaterial, Indentation Test, Laser Deposition, Mechanical Properties, Ti-Ta Alloys

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