Influence of Oxygen Content and Microstructure on the Mechanical Properties and Biocompatibility of Ti-15 wt%Mo Alloy Used for Biomedical Applications

Effect of Thermomechanical Treatments on the Phases, Microstructure, Microhardness and Young's Modulus of Ti-25Ta-Zr Alloys

Titanium and its alloys currently are used as implants, possessing excellent mechanical properties (more suited than stainless steel and Co-Cr alloys), good corrosion resistance and good biocompatibility. The titanium alloy used for most biomedical applications is Ti-6Al-4V, however, studies showed that vanadium and aluminum cause allergic reactions in human tissues and neurological disorders. New titanium alloys without the presence of these elements are being studied. The objective of this study was to analyze the influence of thermomechanical treatments, such as hot-rolling, annealing and solution treatment in the structure, microstructure and mechanical properties of the Ti-25Ta-Zr ternary alloy system. The structural and microstructural analyses were performed using X-ray diffraction, as well as optical, scanning and transmission electron microscopy. The mechanical properties were analyzed using microhardness and Young's modulus measurements. The results showed that the structure of the materials and the mechanical properties are influenced by the different thermal treatments: rapid cooling treatments (hot-rolling and solubilization) induced the formation of α" and β phases, while the treatments with slow cooling (annealing) induced the formation of martensite phases. Alloys in the hot-rolled and solubilized conditions have better mechanical properties results, such as low elastic modulus, due to retention of the β phase in these alloys.

In Silico Analysis of the Biomechanical Stability of Commercially Pure Ti and Ti-15Mo Plates for the Treatment of Mandibular Angle Fracture

PURPOSE

To investigate the influence of different materials and fixation methods on maximum principal stress (MPS) and displacement in reconstruction plates using in silico 3-dimensional finite element analysis (3D-FEA).

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Computer-assisted designed (CAD) models of the mandible and teeth were constructed. Champy and AO/ASIF plates and fixation screws were designed with CAD software. 3D-FEA was performed by image-based CAE software. Maximum and minimum values of biomechanical stability, MPS, and displacement distribution were compared in Champy and AO/ASIF plates made from commercially pure titanium grade 2 (cp-Ti) and a titanium-and-molybdenum (14.47% wt) alloy (Ti-15Mo).

RESULTS

For plates fixed on a model of a fractured left angle of the mandible, the maximum and minimum values of MPS in the cp-Ti-constructed Champy plate, upper AO/ASIF plate, and lower AO/ASIF plate were 19.5 and 20.3%, 15.2 and 25.3%, and 21.4 and 4.6% lower, respectively, than those for plates made from Ti-15Mo. In the same model, the maximum and minimum values of displacement in the cp-Ti-constructed Champy plate, upper AO/ASIF plate, and lower AO/ASIF plate were 1.6 and 3.8%, 3.1 and 2.7%, and 5.4 and 10.4% higher, respectively, than those for plates made from Ti-15Mo.

CONCLUSIONS

This in silico 3D-FEA shows that Ti-15Mo plates have greater load-bearing capability.