The effect of Zr and Sn additions on the microstructure of Ti-Nb-Fe gum metals with high elastic admissible strain

Abstract An open challenge on structural biomaterials is to obtain low-cost Ti-alloys with high elastic admissible strength (the ratio of yield strength to modulus). To reach this goal, we designed and characterized three quaternary alloys from the Ti-Nb-Fe system with additions of Zr and Sn. The samples were solution-treated and tested under two conditions: water-quenched and aged at 450 °C. Microstructures were analyzed with aid of scanning and transmission electron microscopy. Tensile tests performed at room-temperature confirmed a remarkable yield strength of 1271 MPa with an elastic modulus close to 90 GPa among aged Ti-19Nb-2.5Fe-6Sn (wt%) samples. Solution-treated Ti-19Nb-2.5Fe-10Zr samples presented a good combination of yield-strength and elastic modulus (1027 MPa and 69 GPa, respectively), displaying an elastic admissible strength close to 1.5. Although Zr and Sn are equally distributed between matrix and precipitates, the diffusion of Nb and Fe seem to be inhibited by the presence of Sn. As a result, Sn allows higher yield-strengths and more refined secondary α-phase, while Zr has a stronger effect on reducing the elastic modulus. In the end, a materials selection chart is presented to help designers to select materials for orthopedic implants considering the elastic admissible strain and cost as major guidelines.