Preparation and characterization of Ti-15Zr-12.5Mo alloy for use as biomaterial

Titanium alloys exhibit favorable properties for biomedical applications. With the zirconium and molybdenum addition, the microstructure and mechanical properties can be changed. Moreover, these alloying elements have certified non-toxicity. The aim of this paper is to prepare and characterize the microstructure and some mechanical properties of Ti-15Zr-12,5Mo (wt%). The alloy was produced by arc-melting and heat treated at 1000 °C for 24 h. Chemical analysis was made by ICP-OES, EDS and density measurements. The crystalline structure and microstructure were analyzed by X-ray diffraction, optical and scanning electron microscopy. An analysis of the mechanical properties was evaluated by Vickers microhardness measurements. The alloy presented a β-type structure (bcc crystalline structure), with the formation of typical equiaxial grains, with higher hardness value than the cp-Ti. (author)