Stability and metastability of phases in Ti-Nb alloys

Author(s)

Giorgia Taiacol Aleixo

• Document type: Master's Dissertation
• Press: Campinas, SP.
• Institution: Universidade Estadual de Campinas (UNICAMP). Faculdade de Engenharia Mecânica
• Defense date: 2006-02-16

Examining board members

Rubens Caram Junior; Rezende Gomes dos Santos; Carlos Roberto Grandini

• Advisor: Rubens Caram Junior; Conrado Ramos Moreira Afonso

Abstract

Titanium alloys form one of the most versatile classes of metallic materials used for biomedical applications. ß Ti alloys for orthopaedic devices involves, besides excellent properties like low density, high mechanical strength and good corrosion resistance, great biocompatibility with alloying elements, such as Nb, Ta, Zr and Mo. The objective of this work was to analyze the stability and metastability of phases in ß Ti-Nb alloys through the evaluation of the influence of percentage of Nb obtained in different heat treatment conditions. In this way, Nb addition was varied from 5 to 30wt% in Ti-Nb system. Samples were obtained and microstructural characterization was made through optical microscopy, scanning and transmission electron microscopy and X-ray diffraction, while mechanical behavior was primarily evaluated by Vickers hardness and elasticity modulus through acoustic techniques. The results obtained indicate that lower cooling rates resulted in the equilibrium microstructures (a+ß), otherwise higher cooling rates led to formation of metastable structures. As the Nb content was increased and under greater cooling rates, it was obtained, respectively, martensite a¿ (hexagonal closed packed), martensite a¿ (orthorhombic), ? phase (trigonal) and finally, metastable ß phase. Regarding modulus of elasticity it was observed that it decreases as the %Nb increases up to 15% and beyond this percentage the modulus increases due the precipitation of ? phase as well as possible variation of crystalline structure dimensions. Ti-Nb alloys presented a great variety of combinations between microstructures and properties that strongly depends on composition and cooling conditions (AU)