Effect of Rapid Solidification on Microstructure and Elastic Modulus of β Ti–<i>x</i>Nb–3Fe Alloys for Implant Applications

Abstract

The tendency of increasing in life expectancy leads to the development of new materials, especially metallic biomaterials for implant applications. This work aims the rapid solidification and characterization of microstructure and properties of Ti‐Nb‐Fe alloys for biomedical implants. The Ti‐xNb‐3Fe alloys (x = 10, 15, 20, 25, 30 and 35 wt.%) were prepared in the arc melting and then copper mold cast in cylinder and plate shape. The samples were characterized by X‐ray diffraction (XRD), optical (OM) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The elastic modulus lowered with Nb addition (for Ti‐10Nb‐3Fe alloy E = 77 GPa) and greater stability of β phase, lowering to ∼ 70 GPa for 15wt.%Nb and even more for 35wt.%Nb (E = 62 GPa). These results represent a low elastic modulus for a β‐Ti alloy with relatively low addition of β‐stabilizing elements (Nb and Fe).