Preparation, structural and microstructural characterization of Ti–30Nb–10Ta–5Zr alloy for biomedical applications

Abstract

Ti–30Nb–10Ta–5Zr alloy was produced and studied in the work. Plates and wires were made of this alloy. The alloy was shown to have pure β-crystalline phase and to possess the required mechanical properties. Microstructures with a height of the order of several hundred nm, located at a distance of 1.5–2.0 μm were observed on the surface of the alloy. From the point of view of reactive oxygen species generation and long-lived reactive protein species formation, the Ti–30Nb–10Ta–5Zr alloy is more preferrable than nitinol. Cultivation of cell cultures on Ti–30Nb–10Ta–5Zr surfaces resulted in high mitotic index (2%) and low content of non-viable cells (<5%). The cells were actively attaching and spreading on the alloy. Biocompatibility of Ti–30Nb–10Ta–5Zr was confirmed by the experiments on implantation of the alloy as plates and coiled wires. The surface morphology of the specimens did not alter significantly after the biological trials. It can be suggested that Ti–30Nb–10Ta–5Zr alloy is an appropriate material for potential medical applications.

Keywords

• Titanium
• Tantalum
• Niobium
• Zirconium
• Biocompatibility
• Mechanical properties