Microstructure and Elastic Modulus of Beta Ti-35Nb-6Ta alloy produced by Arc-Melting and Laser 3D Printing for Implant Applications

• Grant number: 26/00317-4
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: March 01, 2026
• End date: February 28, 2027
• Field of knowledge: Engineering - Materials and Metallurgical Engineering - Physical Metallurgy
• Principal Investigator: Conrado Ramos Moreira Afonso
• Grantee: Bruno Miranda Casarin
• Host Institution: Centro de Ciências Exatas e de Tecnologia (CCET). Universidade Federal de São Carlos (UFSCAR). São Carlos , SP, Brazil
• Associated research grant: 18/18293-8 - Titanium alloys: phase transformations and additive manufacturing applied to obtaining functionally graded materials, AP.TEM

Abstract

In order to determine the effect of grain refinement, up to the sub-micrometer (ultrafine) range, on the mechanical properties and biocompatibility of multiprincipal Beta Ti Alloys, the effects of different processing routes on the microstructure and properties will be studied. Among biomaterials, metals play a significant role in structural applications, where resistance to different mechanical loads is required. The first metallic biomaterials were relatively inert materials, such as stainless steel (E= 220 GPa), Co-Cr-Mo (E= 210 GPa), and Ti-6Al-4V alloys (E= 110 GPa), but with an elastic modulus much higher than that of human bone (E ~30 GPa). The ¿ Ti alloys have a modulus in the range of E = 42 to 80 GPa, and the multiprincipal BCC alloys open new perspectives for low modulus biomedical alloys. Subsequently, surface treatments were used to improve the interaction of the implant with the surrounding tissue. The present work aims to evaluate the production of the ¿ Ti-35Nb-6Ta alloy through casting by arc melting, laser additive manufacturing. The project aims the mechanical and microstructural characterization of the processing influence on ¿ Ti-35Nb-6Ta alloy (wt.%). As 3D printing usually reach higher oxygen contents (%O) and recent studies point out that optimum %O can increase mechanical strength and improve ductility, circumventing of the great challenges of ¿ Ti alloys, which is combine a low modulus biomaterial with high tensile strength alloy. The techniques used will be optical microscopy (OM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) coupled to EDS (X-ray energy dispersive spectroscopy). The mechanical and physical characterization will be carried out through the determination of tensile strength, Vickers microhardness, and elastic modulus, E (GPa). Thus, the objective of the present research is to evaluate the effect of processing to ¿ Ti-35Nb-6Ta alloy produced by arc melting and laser 3D printing on microstructure and properties for implant applications. (AU)