Origin of ultralow Young׳s modulus in a metastable β-type Ti-33Nb-4Sn alloy

Effect of Zr Content on Phase Stability, Deformation Behavior, and Young's Modulus in Ti-Nb-Zr Alloys

Ti alloys have attracted continuing research attention as promising biomaterials due to their superior corrosion resistance and biocompatibility and excellent mechanical properties. Metastable β-type Ti alloys also provide several unique properties such as low Young’s modulus, shape memory effect, and superelasticity. Such unique properties are predominantly attributed to the phase stability and reversible martensitic transformation. In this study, the effects of the Nb and Zr contents on phase constitution, transformation temperature, deformation behavior, and Young’s modulus were investigated. Ti–Nb and Ti–Nb–Zr alloys over a wide composition range, i.e., Ti–(18–40)Nb, Ti–(15–40)Nb–4Zr, Ti–(16–40)Nb–8Zr, Ti–(15–40)Nb–12Zr, Ti–(12–17)Nb–18Zr, were fabricated and their properties were characterized. The phase boundary between the β phase and the α′′ martensite phase was clarified. The lower limit content of Nb to suppress the martensitic transformation and to obtain a single β phase at room temperature decreased with increasing Zr content. The Ti–25Nb, Ti–22Nb–4Zr, Ti–19Nb–8Zr, Ti–17Nb–12Zr and Ti–14Nb–18Zr alloys exhibit the lowest Young’s modulus among Ti–Nb–Zr alloys with Zr content of 0, 4, 8, 12, and 18 at.%, respectively. Particularly, the Ti–14Nb–18Zr alloy exhibits a very low Young’s modulus less than 40 GPa. Correlation among alloy composition, phase stability, and Young’s modulus was discussed.

Origin of low Young modulus of multicomponent, biomedical Ti alloys - Seeking optimal elastic properties through a first principles investigation

Multicomponent, biomedical β-Ti alloys offer ultra-low Young modulus values that are related to a unique and poorly understood reduction of C₄₄ and C' elastic constants in comparison with binary systems. The elastic properties of such materials are difficult to control due to the large variations occurring even for a small change in chemical composition, which cannot be explained using existing theories. In this article, we investigate the above issues through systematic ab initio elastic constants calculations for a series of binary, ternary and quaternary Ti alloys. Special attention is paid to examining the reliability of the methodology adopted and to clarifying the atomic scale mechanisms that affect the mechanical properties of the systems analysed. It was found that the lower boundary of the polycrystalline Young modulus of Ti-Nb-base β phase is close to 50 GPa, and strongly depends on two specific electronic hybridisations related to niobium and simple metals addition that control C₄₄ and C'. Based on the relationship established between electronic structure and mechanical properties, we propose several quaternary alloys whose directional <100> Young modulus values are equal or similar to that of human bones. Some electronic-based guidelines for designing new multicomponent β-Ti alloys are also formulated.

The mechanical behavior of TiNbSn alloys according to alloying contents, cold rolling and aging

The present study is focused on mechanical properties that result from cold rolling and aging treatments applied to TiNbSn alloys comprising different Nb (35% and 42%) and Sn (0% and 2.5%) contents. The alloys were arc melted, homogenized, solubilized, cold rolled and aged at 400°C for different aging times. A set of characterization tests performed, included microstructural analysis, X-ray diffraction, microhardness, tensile tests and fracture analysis. The alloys contained all three β, α" and ω phases after cold rolling, regardless of the alloying content. The solid solution effect led to changes in the alloys' mechanical behavior. Furthermore, the alloys presented α phase precipitation, and it led to a peak-aged stage after different aging times due to the Nb content. The alloys containing 42% and 35% Nb content reached the peak-aged stage within 48 and 72h, respectively. The α phase precipitation in the alloys at peak-aged stage increased the hardness, tensile strength and elastic modulus of the alloys; however, it also caused ductility to decrease. The fine dispersed precipitates of the α phase generated small and shallow dimples, which are a characteristic fracture micromechanism of peak-aged alloys.