Materials Science Forum Vols. 654-656

Abstract: This work investigates the mechanical properties of Ti-Cr system alloys and focuses on the microstructure, the Young’s modulus, the deformation mechanism and the deformation behaviour observed in various alloy compositions. The addition of Al to the Ti-Cr system alloys greatly decreases the Young’s modulus. Addition of Al, Sn and Zr to various Ti-Cr alloys suppresses the athermal ω phase that forms during quenching from β field. A Ti-Cr system alloy with low Young’s modulus was obtained in suitable compositional combination of Cr, Zr and Sn or Al. The alloys with the composition where the quenched microstructure transits from martensite to meta-stable β phase show low Young’s modulus. In addition, the alloys show two-step yielding due to stress-induced transformation.

Abstract: In order to produce new β (bcc) Ti alloys for medical applications, effects of Mn substitution for Cr on phase constitution and mechanical properties of Ti-Cr-Sn alloys were investigated. All the Ti-7mol%(Cr, Mn)-3mol%Sn alloys investigated by XRD analysis were identified as β (bcc) alloys, and athermal ω phase was also detected in Ti-7mol%Mn-3mol%Sn . The lattice parameter of β was slightly decreased by Mn substitution. Besides, the Mn substitution for Cr raised the hardness and the strength while reduced the ductility of the Ti-Cr-Sn alloys. The hardening by Mn substitution must be due to ω precipitation. The hardening is discussed from the viewpoint of electron atom ratio (e/a) in comparison with Ti-Cr binary alloys in the literature.

Abstract: The phase constituents of the Ti-Cr-Au ternary and Ti-Cr-Au-Zr quaternary systems were investigated using X-ray diffraction analysis and optical microscopy. The composition ranges were 3~10mol%Cr and 0~8mol%Au for the ternary system, and 0~42mol%Zr were added to Ti-5mol%Cr-4mol%Au. It was found that the β phase was stabilized by the addition of Cr and Zr, and that A15-type Ti3Au was formed when the Au content was 6mol% or higher. Besides, C14 Laves phase similar to Zr33Ti40Au27 was recognized in Ti-5mol%Cr-4mol%Au-42mol%Zr.

Abstract: Effect of nitrogen (N) addition on mechanical properties of Ti-Cr-Sn alloy was investigated in this study. Ti-7mol%Cr-3mol%Sn was selected and less than 0.5wt% of N were systematically added. The alloys were characterized by optical microscopy, X-ray diffraction analysis and tensile tests at room temperature. The apparent phase was β (bcc) phase, whereas the presence of precipitates was confirmed in 0.5wt%N-added alloy only which did not exhibit sufficient cold workability. The grain size was not largely affected by N addition being less than 0.5wt%. Tensile tests revealed that less than 0.5wt%N addition improves the strength which is due to the solution hardening by interstitial N atoms.

Abstract: Ti2448 (Ti-24Nb-4Zr-8Sn wt.%) is a metastable  type titanium alloy developed recently for biomedical applications. The alloy possesses good biomechanical compatibility with human bone, in terms of high strength and an elastic modulus approaching that of the hard tissue of human body, as well as biochemical compatibility since it contains only nontoxic alloying elements. Bone plates manufactured from the Ti2448 alloy has undergone clinical trials and an application for product permission has been submitted to FDA of China. We review briefly the methodology of alloy design and peculiar properties including pronounced nonlinear elasticity and localized plastic deformation. Variations of mechanical properties with processing scheme will be presented. The positive effects of improved elastic matching between implant and bone on healing fractured bone are demonstrated by new bone formation at intramedullary nails implanted in New Zealand white rabbits and bone plates implanted in Beagle dogs.

Abstract: A peculiar effect of oxygen on ω-phase stability, i.e., the enhancement of the isothermal ω-phase formation during aging due to oxygen addition was observed in the Ti-29Nb-13Ta-4.6Zr; this effect is contradictory to that reported conventionally. The effect was analyzed from the viewpoint of distribution of alloying elements. Oxygen and/or zirconium may dissolve in the ω phase during aging, resulting in the stabilization of the ω phase in this alloy.

Abstract: Y2O3 was added to β-type Ti-29Nb-13Ta-4.6Zr (TNTZ) in order to achieve excellent mechanical performance and low Young’s modulus. TNTZ specimens with 0.05%–1.0% Y are all found to be composed of a β phase. Young’s moduli of TNTZ with 0.05–1.0% Y are all maintained low, and are almost the same as that of TNTZ without Y2O3. The grain size of TNTZ with 0.05%–1.0% Y is smaller than that of TNTZ without Y2O3. Moreover, Y2O3 precipitates can prevent the texture movement, and this effect becomes more obvious with an increase in the Y concentration. The tensile strength of TNTZ is successfully improved by adding Y2O3. TNTZ specimens with 0.2% and 1.0% Y exhibit good balance between the tensile strength and the elongation.

Abstract: Mechanical properties of beta-type biomedical Ti-29Nb-13Ta-4.6Zr (mass %) (TNTZ), which exhibits non-toxicity and a low modulus similar to that of cortical bone, is improved by thermomechanical treatments, including severe cold swaging. Simultaneously, the biocompatibility of a TNTZ spinal implant rod with living tissue is evaluated using ovines, and TNTZ is proved to show good biocompatibility with bovine tissue.

Abstract: The microstructures of laser welds of the near-β titanium alloy TLM were studied for substrates in the as hot rolled, solution treated and solution treated and aged conditions. Irrespective of substrate condition the fusion zone consists of a cellular β structure. Trends in bulk hardness of the various conditions seem to be carried through into the weld consistently across the profile. The hardness in the fusion zone remained similar to that of the bulk. However, a drop in hardness occurs in the HAZ. Lath that formed around the hardness indent of the fusion zone and HAZ suggest that the weld undergoes a martensitic transformation to α" during deformation.

Abstract: Effects of single- and multi-step aging on mechanical properties and shape memory properties of Ti-6Mo-8Al (mol%) biomedical shape memory alloy were studied using tensile tests at room temperature (RT). The solution-treated alloy at RT was two phase of bcc β and martensite α". Tensile tests revealed that the solution-treated alloy exhibited good shape memory effect. As for the single-step aging, (1) pseudoelastic shape recovery by unloading was observed after aging at 623K, (2) the alloy became brittle after aging at 773K due to ω embrittlement, and (3) strength was improved with small shape memory effect by aging at 1023K. On the other hand, after a multistep aging at 773K-1023K-1123K, the alloy was strengthened and showed perfect shape recovery. The improvement must be achieved by the formation of fine and uniform hcp α precipitates.