Researchers develop Powder Metallurgy titanium alloy for dental applications
October 18, 2023
Researchers from the Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi, India, have published an article in the Journal of Biomedical Materials Research Part B: Applied Biomaterials which describes the development of a potential biomaterial (Ti-10Nb) using Powder Metallurgy. The paper, ‘Development of Ti10-Nb alloy by Powder Metallurgy processing route for dental application,’ examines the microstructural, physical, mechanical, electrochemical, biological and tribological behaviour of the material under various situations.
The alloys were fabricated using four different compaction pressures (600, 650, 700, and 750 MPa) and sintered in a vacuum atmosphere at 1000°C for 1.5 hours. The density of the samples was measured using Archimedes’ principle. X-ray diffraction and scanning electron microscopy equipped with energy dispersive spectroscopy were utilised to investigate the phase composition and microstructure.
Additionally, a profilometer was employed to examine the surface roughness of the various samples. Hardness was evaluated using a Vickers hardness tester, while compression testing was conducted using a universal testing machine. Corrosion and wear behaviour were examined using a potentiostat and a Bio-Tribometer, respectively.
The study discovered that the samples compacted at 750 MPa exhibited the highest hardness, yield strength, compressive strength, and elastic modulus, measuring 450 ± 29.72 HV, 718.22 ± 16.37 MPa, 1543.59 ± 24.37 MPa, and 41.27 ± 3.29 GPa, respectively. Additionally, these samples demonstrated the highest corrosion and wear resistance, with the lowest icorr value of 0.3954 ± 0.008 μA/cm2 and wear volume of (31.25 ± 0.206) × 10−3 mm3.
The findings suggest that the developed alloys possess a range of desirable properties, such as high hardness, sufficient compressive strength, good corrosion and wear resistance, apatite-forming capability, and a low elastic modulus, which is advantageous for preventing stress shielding. The authors have stated that these attributes mean the materials should be considered as potential materials for dental implants.
Access to the full paper is available here.
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