Effect of Fe content on microstructural evolution and mechanical properties of Ti-5Mo-xFe alloys

Abstract

Metastable beta titanium alloys (Ti-5Mo-xFe) were designed for biomedical applications with high strength and high cycle fatigue properties in this study. By varying Fe content (1, 2, and 4 wt%), we assessed changes in phase composition, grain refinement, and intermetallic compound formation to optimize the alloy for biomedical applications. The results revealed that increased Fe content enhances hardness and yield strength due to solid solution strengthening and grain refinement but slightly decreases corrosion resistance. Additionally, the microstructural evolution affected fatigue properties, with the basket-weave structure in Ti-5Mo-1Fe improving crack resistance, while the lamellar structures in higher Fe alloys exhibited lower fatigue resistance. These findings highlight the potential of Ti-5Mo-xFe alloys as cost-effective high-performance materials for implants, contributing to the tailored mechanical and electrochemical properties essential for biomedical applications.

Keywords

• Beta titanium
• Biomaterial
• Ti-Mo-Fe alloy
• Fe content
• High cycle fatigue