Titanium Alloys: Microstructure, Mechanical Properties and Biomedical Applications

A special issue of Metals (ISSN 2075-4701). This special issue belongs to the section "Biobased and Biodegradable Metals".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (30 June 2023) | Viewed by 8081

Special Issue Editor

Institute of Metal Research Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenyang 110016, China
Interests: titanium; antibacterial material; biofunction

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Titanium alloys have been widely used in orthopedics, dentistry, and other clinical fields because of their unique advantages, such as their excellent comprehensive mechanical properties, processing and molding properties, and clinical reliability. Fracture fixation instruments, artificial joints, spinal orthosis, and dental implants are typical medical devices made of medical titanium alloys. In recent decades, the interest in microstructure, mechanical properties, biofunction, and biomedical applications of titanium alloys has been gradually increasing.

This Special Issue aims to address the latest research on not only basic materials studies of titanium alloys but also clinical transformation of titanium alloy medical devices, in order to deeply understand the development of medical titanium alloys and their medical devices.

Prof. Dr. Ling Ren
Guest Editor

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Keywords

  • titanium
  • microstructure
  • mechanical properties
  • biomedical application

Published Papers (6 papers)

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Research

13 pages, 9384 KiB  
Article
Evolution on the Microstructure and Mechanical Properties of a New Multicomponent Near-Alpha Titanium Alloy after Rolling and Heat Treatments
by Jingyu Han, Zhilei Xiang, Xiaozhao Ma, Zongyi Zhou, Jingcun Huang, Jihao Li, Andong Wang, Gaoliang Shen and Ziyong Chen
Metals 2023, 13(7), 1231; https://doi.org/10.3390/met13071231 - 04 Jul 2023
Viewed by 814
Abstract
Near-alpha titanium alloys are widely used in aeroengine blades due to their excellent specific strength and mechanical properties. The mechanical properties of near-α titanium alloys are closely related to the evolution of the microstructure and precipitates. In this paper, the microstructure and mechanical [...] Read more.
Near-alpha titanium alloys are widely used in aeroengine blades due to their excellent specific strength and mechanical properties. The mechanical properties of near-α titanium alloys are closely related to the evolution of the microstructure and precipitates. In this paper, the microstructure and mechanical properties of a new type of multi-component near-α titanium alloy sheet after rolling, 700 °C aging, and 800 °C aging were studied. The results show that the strength of the alloy after aging at 700 °C increases from 1156 MPa to 1304 MPa, respectively, but decreases to 1246 MPa with the aging temperature increasing. The ductility of the alloy aged at 700 °C is lower than that of the rolled state, but the ductility increases slightly with the aging temperature increasing. The effect of aging heat treatment on the microstructure and precipitation behavior of alloy plates has been studied and compared with alloys before aging. After heat treatment, the content of primary α decreases from 25% to 5%, respectively. Two kinds of silicide precipitate at different positions, with the large-size spherical silicide being (Ti, Zr, Nb)5Si3, and the small-size fusiform silicide being (Ti, Zr, Nb)6Si3, respectively. Ti3Al was precipitated in the primary α phase, during the aging process. The silicides exhibit the strengthening effect on the alloy, but the effect weakens when the silicides grow up. The loss in ductility is mainly attributed to the precipitation of the α2 phase after aging treatment. However, ductility is improved after applying higher aging temperatures as the size of the α2 phase becomes smaller, and the distribution of them tends to become dispersed. Full article
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17 pages, 5528 KiB  
Article
Computational Simulation of a Femoral Nail Fracture
by Stephen Whatley, Farah Hamandi, Indresh Venkatarayappa and Tarun Goswami
Metals 2023, 13(3), 509; https://doi.org/10.3390/met13030509 - 02 Mar 2023
Viewed by 951
Abstract
Femoral nails are used to provide fixation for fractured long bones. These constructs simultaneously provide stability and union in nearly 10% of cases of premature failure. The goal of this investigation was to develop and test different models of the femur using cephalomedullary [...] Read more.
Femoral nails are used to provide fixation for fractured long bones. These constructs simultaneously provide stability and union in nearly 10% of cases of premature failure. The goal of this investigation was to develop and test different models of the femur using cephalomedullary nail fixation. These models represent three different types of hip fractures (intracapsular, intertrochanteric, and subtrochanteric fractures). By testing the different fracture types, one can determine the fracture tolerance of the constructs from the resulting forces that occur due to the activities of daily living. Understanding the effects that the loads will have on the integrity of the nail-bone construct may help reduce the risks that could arise through its use. The computational simulations performed indicate that an undamaged femur can withstand the forces of 4.4× the body weight of the average adult male. A subtrochanteric femur fracture, however, can only withstand over 2.3× the same weight, nearly 50% lower than the normal femur. Regarding this lower amount, it is not impossible that an overloading scenario could occur. The data from the gait cycle show that, with a subtrochanteric fracture, the nail experiences stress that is just within the fatigue limit of the material. Given the collected data, subtrochanteric fractures are the most likely candidates for causing failures when comparing fracture types. In general, understanding the effects that different loads have on the integrity of the nail-bone construct may help reduce the risks that could arise through its use. Full article
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9 pages, 7090 KiB  
Communication
Observations of Contraction Twin Boundaries of High-Purity Titanium during Dynamic Loading
by Yi Ren, Feng Xu, Chao Lou, Wei Chen and Qingshan Yang
Metals 2023, 13(2), 265; https://doi.org/10.3390/met13020265 - 29 Jan 2023
Viewed by 941
Abstract
High-purity titanium has been subjected to dynamic compression with a strain rate of 103 s−1 to activate {112-2} and {112-4} contraction twins. Electron backscatter diffraction (EBSD), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and [...] Read more.
High-purity titanium has been subjected to dynamic compression with a strain rate of 103 s−1 to activate {112-2} and {112-4} contraction twins. Electron backscatter diffraction (EBSD), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and high-resolution TEM (HRTEM) were performed to observe the morphologies and twin boundaries of the contraction twins. The results show that {112-2} twins are the predominant twinning mode, as well as the formation of {112-4} twins due to the change in local stress state at the intersection region of {112-2} twin variants or {112-2} twin and grain boundary. The TEM and HRTEM observations reveal that (0001)‖(1122-) facets and (0001)‖(1121-) facets formed along the {112-2} and {112-4} twin boundaries, respectively. According to the theory of interfacial defects, the propagation of the {112-2} twin boundary was discussed with (b3, 3h{112-2}) and (b1, h{112-2}) twinning disconnections, as well as the growth process of the {112-4} twin boundary. Full article
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13 pages, 5824 KiB  
Article
Enhanced Corrosion Resistance and Biological Properties of Ultrafine-Grained Ti15Zr5Cu Alloy
by Hai Wang, Wenwei Gao, Xiyue Zhang, Yi Li, Shuyuan Zhang, Ling Ren and Ke Yang
Metals 2022, 12(7), 1144; https://doi.org/10.3390/met12071144 - 05 Jul 2022
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1214
Abstract
Titanium alloys are widely used in the biomedical field. To ensure their strength meets requirements in clinics, medical titanium alloys are generally alloyed with toxic Al and/or V elements, hence ensuring their long-term biological safety after implantation is a challenge. In our previous [...] Read more.
Titanium alloys are widely used in the biomedical field. To ensure their strength meets requirements in clinics, medical titanium alloys are generally alloyed with toxic Al and/or V elements, hence ensuring their long-term biological safety after implantation is a challenge. In our previous research, we developed an ultrafine-grained Ti15Zr5Cu alloy without toxic elements while its mechanical properties were at the same level with the most widely used Ti6Al4V alloy. In order to promote the clinical application of the ultrafine-grained Ti15Zr5Cu alloy, herein we have systematically studied the hot deformation behaviors of the material as well as evaluated its corrosion resistance and biological properties. Results showed that when the as-quenched Ti15Zr5Cu alloy deformed at 0.05 ≤ ε˙ ≤ 1, 730 °C ≤ T ≤ 750 °C, it not only possessed good workability but also can be converted into an equiaxed ultrafine-grained microstructure. Moreover, the material also exhibited better corrosion resistance, antibacterial properties and biocompatibility than the Ti15Zr alloy and the commercial pure Ti. The results of the present study help lay a foundation for the development of a new generation of medical titanium alloys. Full article
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14 pages, 4485 KiB  
Article
Precipitation Behavior and Microstructural Evolution of α Phase during Hot Deformation in a Novel β-Air-Cooled Metastable β-Type Ti-B12 Alloy
by Jun Cheng, Sen Yu, Jinshan Li, Jinyang Gai, Zhaoxin Du, Fuyu Dong, Jinyong Zhang and Xiaoyong Zhang
Metals 2022, 12(5), 770; https://doi.org/10.3390/met12050770 - 29 Apr 2022
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1580
Abstract
The precipitation behavior and microstructural evolution of α phase in a novel metastable β-type Ti alloy, Ti-10Mo-6Zr-4Sn-3Nb (wt.%), during isothermal compression are investigated in this study through the use of SEM (scanning electron microscope), TEM (transmission electron microscope) (HRTEM) (high-resolution transmission electron microscopy) [...] Read more.
The precipitation behavior and microstructural evolution of α phase in a novel metastable β-type Ti alloy, Ti-10Mo-6Zr-4Sn-3Nb (wt.%), during isothermal compression are investigated in this study through the use of SEM (scanning electron microscope), TEM (transmission electron microscope) (HRTEM) (high-resolution transmission electron microscopy) and EBSD techniques. The results show that some finer α precipitates are randomly distributed within the β matrix during hot deformation. The morphological characteristics of α precipitates are distinctly different from those of α precipitates during the same solution-plus-aging treatment. The volume fraction of α precipitate gradually increases with increased true strain. A large proportion of precipitated α phases are prone to be precipitated at HAGBs (high-angle grain boundaries) and LAGBs (low-angle grain boundaries) during isothermal deformation. On the contrary, only a small amount of spherical α phases is precipitated within the β grain. The crystallographic orientation relationships for most spherical α precipitates formed at LAGBs and within the β grains are similar, whereas the crystallographic orientation relationships for α precipitates at grain boundaries are significantly different. The precipitation behavior of α phase in the Ti-B12 alloy during hot compression is considerably influenced by the density of dislocations. Full article
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13 pages, 3792 KiB  
Article
Use of Porous Titanium Trabecular as a Bone Defect Regenerator: In Vivo Study
by Ana Isabel Torres Pérez, Mariano Fernández Fairén, Ángel Antonio Torres Pérez and Javier Gil Mur
Metals 2022, 12(2), 327; https://doi.org/10.3390/met12020327 - 12 Feb 2022
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1817
Abstract
The application of porous materials is increasingly being used in orthopaedic surgery due to its good results. Bone growth within the pores results in excellent mechanical fixation with the bone, as well as good bone regeneration. The pores, in addition to being colonised [...] Read more.
The application of porous materials is increasingly being used in orthopaedic surgery due to its good results. Bone growth within the pores results in excellent mechanical fixation with the bone, as well as good bone regeneration. The pores, in addition to being colonised by bone, produce a decrease in the modulus of elasticity that favours the transfer of loads to the bone. This research shows the results of an experimental study where we have created critical osteoperiosteal defects of 10 mm on rabbit’s radius diaphysis. In one group of 10 rabbits (experimental group) we have implanted a bioactive porous titanium cylinder, and in another group we have allowed spontaneous regeneration (control group). Mechanical tests were performed to assess the material. Image diagnostic techniques (X-ray, scanner and 3D scan: there are no references on the literature with the use of CT-scan in bone defects) and histological and histomorphometric studies post-op and after 3, 6 and 12 months after the surgery were performed. All the control cases went through a pseudoarthrosis. In 9 of the 10 cases of the experimental group complete regeneration was observed, with a normal cortical-marrow structure established at 6 months, similar to normal bone. Titanium trabecular reached a bone percentage of bone inside the implant of 49.3% on its surface 3 months post-op, 75.6% at 6 months and 81.3% at 12 months. This porous titanium biomaterial has appropriate characteristics to allow bone ingrowth, and it can be proposed as a bone graft substitute to regenerate bone defects, as a scaffold, or as a coating to achieve implant osteointegration. Full article
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