INCREASING STRENGTH OF Ti-Nb-Zr-TA BIOMEDICAL ALLOY VIA OXYGEN CONTENT

Low strength restricts the application of biomedical beta titanium alloys in low-modulus solution treated condition. Commercial Ti-Nb-Zr-Ta biomedical alloy was used for this study. Small additions of iron, silicon and oxygen were used to increase the strength of the alloy. The highest effect was achieved by oxygen content. The strength can be more than doubled after adding 0.7 wt.% of oxygen thanks to interstitial hardening. At the same time, the elastic modulus measured by pulse-echo method is increased from 60 GPa to 80 GPa. The alloys containing 2 wt.% of iron and/ or 0.7 wt.% of oxygen show significant work hardening. Scanning electron microscopy was employed for microstructural characterization.