Fabrication and Characterization of Niobium Alloys Treated by Vacuum Arc Remelting Technique: Hybrid Approach for Orthopedic Applications

Abstract

This research showed the wear and mechanical behaviour of two new Ti-Nb-based alloys for biomedical implants. Vacuum arc remelting is used to create two types of Ti-Nb alloys with different elemental percentages of niobium: Ti-35Nb-7Zr-5Ta-0.35O and Ti-24Nb-4Zr-8Sn. The alloys were treated with heat at 2000^oC for 6 hours in an argon atmosphere. Field emission scanning electron microscopy was used to determine the microstructure and confirm the phase. Vickers microhardness testing was used to determine the alloys' hardness.  A  pin-on-disc wear testing equipment is used to conduct in-vitro tests to determine the samples' resistance to wear. Comparisons with Ti-24Nb-4Zr-8Sn showed that the alloys' coefficient of friction was improved by order of magnitude.