Artificial implants of titanium alloys for biomedical applications

Abstract

The evolving healthcare industry, driven by the growing need for joint replacement surgeries, musculoskeletal repairs, and orthodontic procedures on a global scale, has prompted the creation of innovative technologies. These emerging technologies are designed to adapt to evolving healthcare needs. In the field of biomedicine, there is a history of using metallic orthopedic materials alongside aerospace industry applications. While these materials are only partially effective in the biomedical domain, they are still considered suitable for bone tissue replacements and regenerative therapies because of their exceptional mechanical properties. Tantalum and Molybdenum elements were added to the titanium to improve the corrosion resistance and mechanical properties because Tantalum and Molybdenum are considered β-stabilizer elements. This research focused on synthesizing the Ti-10Mo-20Ta alloy using arc-melting, placing particular importance on its potential medical applications. Furthermore, the investigation scrutinized the consequences of subjecting the alloy to hot annealing at a temperature of 1050 ºC for a duration of 1.5 hours. Subsequently, the alloy was rapidly immersed in water, and its microstructure and mechanical properties were analyzed. The alloy was characterized utilizing methods like X-ray diffraction and optical microscopy, and transmission electron microscopy. The results obtained indicated that the material possessed a metastable β structure with minimal α phase presence, as revealed through structural analysis. Tensile strength testing conducted at room temperature exhibited a significantly higher value of around 1200 MPa in comparison to Ti-6Al-4V and CP-Ti alloys. These alloys were deemed suitable for their intended purpose as orthopaedic implants.