Development of a low cost high entropy alloy for potential use as bone fixation devices

• Grant number: 21/13921-3
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Doctorate
• Start date: December 01, 2022
• End date: August 31, 2026
• Field of knowledge: Engineering - Materials and Metallurgical Engineering - Physical Metallurgy
• Principal Investigator: Diego Rafael Nespeque Correa
• Grantee: Jhuliene Elen Muro Torrento
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Ciências (FC). Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP). Campus de Bauru. Bauru , SP, Brazil
• Associated scholarship(s): 23/15812-2 - Development of a novel high entropy alloy by mechanical alloying, BE.EP.DR

Abstract

In recent years, high entropy alloys (HEAs) composed of 5 or more elements in a proportion close to equimolar have been developed. These materials have been recognized for their high mechanical strength, ductility, and corrosion resistance, which have attracted attention in the biomedical field. However, the currently developed high entropy alloys do not have adequate mechanical, electrochemical, and biological properties for use as biomaterials. This makes the development of new HEA alloys for use specifically as biomaterials a promising field. In addition, surface modification methods, including plasma electrolytic oxidation (PEO), has been proven to be useful to accelerate the process of osseointegration and bone tissue recovery, in addition to preventing bacterial infection on the implant surface. However, the study of surface treatment by PEO in HEA alloys is still incipient, having the potential to bring interesting results for the application. This project aims to develop a novel high entropy alloy, composed of non-toxic, low cost, and low melting point elements, such as Ti, Zr, Mn, Al, and Fe, for potential use in biomedical application, such as bone fixation devices (pins, plates, and screws), which require unique properties to fix and hold bone tissue together. The surface of the alloys will be modified by PEO to produce surfaces with biofunctional properties, such as biocompatibility, osseointegration, and bioactivity.

Scientific publications

(8)

(References retrieved automatically from Web of Science and SciELO through information on FAPESP grants and their corresponding numbers as mentioned in the publications by the authors)

COAN, KARINE STEFANY; DE SOUSA, TIAGO DOS SANTOS PEREIRA; GRANDINI, CARLOS ROBERTO; RANGEL, ELIDIANE CIPRIANO; DA CRUZ, NILSON CRISTINO; BARBARO, KATIA; FOSCA, MARCO; RAU, JULIETTA, V; TSIPAS, SOPHIA ALEXANDRA; CORREA, DIEGO RAFAEL NESPEQUE. Addressing wear-resistant, bioactive, and bio-selective coatings on the biomedical Ti-6Al-4 V alloy by performing MAO treatment in TMO-rich electrolyte. Applied Surface Science, v. 689, p. 13-pg., 2025-04-30. (21/13921-3, 24/03148-3, 18/24931-7)

TORRENTO, JHULIENE ELEN MURO; DE SOUSA, TIAGO DOS SANTOS PEREIRA; DA CRUZ, NILSON CRISTINO; AFONSO, CONRADO RAMOS MOREIRA; GRANDINI, CARLOS ROBERTO; CORREA, DIEGO RAFAEL NESPEQUE. Aging temperature effect on the phase composition, microstructure, and selected mechanical properties of non-equiatomic TiZrNbTaMo/Mn HEAs targeted for biomedical implants. MATERIALS CHARACTERIZATION, v. 208, p. 8-pg., 2024-01-23. (21/13921-3)

DA SILVA, ALINE C. N.; RIBEIRO, RAFAEL P.; RANGEL, ELIDIANE C.; DA CRUZ, NILSON C.; CORREA, DIEGO R. N.. Production of Porous ZrO₂-TiO₂ Ceramic Coatings on the Biomedical Ti-6Al-4V Alloy via AC PEO Treatment and Their Effects on the Corrosion Behavior in 0.9% NaCl. COATINGS, v. 14, n. 7, p. 20-pg., 2024-07-01. (21/13921-3, 18/24931-7)

SOUSA, T. S. P.; TORRENTO, J. E. M.; KURODA, P. A. B.; GONCALVES, V. R. M.; COAN, K. S.; CORREA, D. R. N.; GRANDINI, C. R.. Surface aspects of novel Bio-HEAs MAO-treated in a Ca-, P-, and Mg-rich electrolyte. Applied Surface Science, v. 664, p. 11-pg., 2024-05-16. (21/13921-3)

NETO, JOSE ROBERTO FERREIRA; RIBEIRO, RAFAEL PARRA; DA CRUZ, NILSON CRISTINO; RANGEL, ELIDIANE CIPRIANO; PINTO, BRUNA DE OLIVEIRA; TORRENTO, JHULIENE ELEN MURO; GRANDINI, CARLOS ROBERTO; KANEKO, ULISSES FERREIRA; CORREA, DIEGO RAFAEL NESPEQUE. Effect of Bulk Phase Composition on the Growth of PEO Coatings on the Biomedical Ti-6Al-4V Alloy. MATERIALS, v. 18, n. 5, p. 18-pg., 2025-03-01. (24/03148-3, 21/13921-3, 18/24931-7)

CORDOVA, ABEL VICTOR ISIDRO TEVES; ALCALDE, MURILO PRIORI; VIVAN, RODRIGO RICCI; QUIROZ, CESAR ANDRE ZEVALLOS; GUZMAN, HUBERT PONCE; CALEFI, PEDRO SOUZA; PINTO, BRUNA OLIVEIRA; CORREA, DIEGO RAFAEL NESPEQUE; GRANDINI, CARLOS ROBERTO; DUARTE, MARCO ANTONIO HUNGARO. Impact of Metallurgical Features on the Cyclic and Torsional Properties of Five Reciprocating Instruments Manufactured With Blue Thermal Treatment. MICROSCOPY RESEARCH AND TECHNIQUE, v. N/A, p. 10-pg., 2025-02-28. (21/13921-3)

PINTO, BRUNA O.; TORRENTO, JHULIENE E. M.; KURODA, PEDRO A. B.; CORREA, MARIANA R.; GRANDINI, CARLOS R.; ZAMBUZZI, WILLIAM F.; RAU, JULIETTA V.; FOSCA, MARCO; CORREA, DIEGO R. N.. Impacts of the alloying elements and thermo-mechanical processing on the phase stability, crystalline structure, microstructure, and selected mechanical properties of Ti-(10-x)Al-xV (x = 0, 2, and 4 wt%) alloys targeted as external prostheses. MATERIALS TODAY COMMUNICATIONS, v. 41, p. 11-pg., 2024-12-01. (21/13921-3, 18/24931-7)

MAURICIO, DANILO CERVANTES; GONCALVES, VINICIUS RICHIERI MANSO; TORRENTO, JHULIENE ELEN MURO; PINTAO, CARLOS ALBERTO FONZAR; GRANDINI, CARLOS ROBERTO; AFONSO, CONRADO RAMOS MOREIRA; DE ALMEIDA, GERSON SANTOS; ZAMBUZZI, WILLIAN FERNANDO; CORREA, DIEGO RAFAEL NESPEQUE. In-situ production of a biomedical metal-matrix composite based on a high entropy alloy reinforced with TiC and TiB. JOURNAL OF MATERIALS RESEARCH AND TECHNOLOGY-JMR&T, v. 35, p. 11-pg., 2025-03-01. (23/09532-7, 22/15157-1, 24/01132-2, 24/03148-3, 24/03886-4, 21/13921-3)