CHARACTERIZATION AND COMPARISON OF MECHANICAL PROPERTIES AND CORROSION RESISTANCE OF TI-10MO-20NB, TI-6AL-4V AND TI-CP ALLOYS FOR BIOMEDICAL APPLICATIONS

One of the main biomedical material for implants, the Ti-6Al-4V alloy, over time generates oxides of V and Al that accumulate in the body and cause cytotoxic effects. Researches have been making an effort for developing an alternative β metastable Ti alloy that combines corrosion resistance, biocompatibility and good mechanical properties. In view of this scenario, the present work aims to characterize a Ti-10Mo-20Nb alloy and compare the results obtained with a commercial purity Ti alloy and Ti-6Al-4V alloy. Ti-10Mo-20Nb samples were subjected to heat treatment at 1000°C, after that they were water quenched. A hot swagging process at 900°C was applied resulting on a cross section reduction of 80%. The alloy was characterized by optical microscopy, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Vickers microhardness and the linear polarization technique. For the Ti-10Mo-20Nb alloy the ratio between the hardness and the elastic modulus was of 3.22, the hardness value of 238 HV and the elastic modulus of 74 GPa. The Ti-10Mo-20Nb alloy showed a better mechanical as well as biological compatibility due to the non-cytotoxic of its alloy elements, Mo and NB, in spite of the lower corrosion resistance value when compared to other alloys, it is still possessing reasonable resistance to corrosion and develops a remarkable passivation layer. As such Ti-10Mo-20Nb is a promising alternative for biomedical applications due to its superior mechanical properties and better biocompatibility with human bone.