Microstructures, mechanical properties, and corrosion behavior of novel multi-component Ti-6Mo-6Nb-xSn-xMn alloys for biomedical applications

Abstract

In this study, novel multi-component Ti-Mo-Nb-Sn-Mn alloys were developed as a solution to the mismatch in elastic moduli of implant and human bone and toxicity of the Ti-6Al-4V alloy commonly used in the biomedical field. This study is aimed to investigate the effects of Sn and Mn addition as beta stabilizers on the microstructural transformation, mechanical properties, and corrosion behavior of the alloys. Ti-6Mo-6Nb-xSn-xMn (x = 0, 4, or 8) alloys were re-melted five times in an arc re-melting process under an argon atmosphere and the obtained ingots were characterized using optical microscopy, X-ray diffractometry, ultrasound, a Vicker's hardness tester, and polarization tests in a Ringer solution. The results show that a Ti-6Mo-6Nb-xSn-xMn alloy had a lower elastic modulus and better corrosion resistance than those of commercial Ti-6Al-4V alloy, making it a potential candidate for use in the biomedical field.