Nanostructured Ti–13Nb–13Zr for dental implant applications produced by severe plastic deformation

Abstract

Nanostructured titanium plays an important role in biomedical applications, especially in dentistry, as the nanostructured surface promotes bone cell growth and simultaneously prevents bacterial colonization. Nanostructured microstructures can be obtained through Severe Plastic Deformation processes. In this paper, thermomechanical processing via Equal Channel Angular Swaging for the continuous production of nanocrystalline Ti–13Nb–13Zr (TNZ) is investigated with respect to applications in dental implantology. TNZ is a second-generation β-rich (α + β) medical alloy which can consist of the three phases α- and β-phase as well as αʺ-martensite. The αʺ-martensite has a very low Young’s modulus and a comparably low strength with high ductility allowing metal forming even at low temperatures. By adjusting different phase volume fractions, a wide range of mechanical properties can be realized, especially Young’s modulus between 50 and 90 GPa at a yield strength exceeding 950 MPa making it an ideal material for dental implants and abutments. Graphical abstract: [Figure not available: see fulltext.]