Effect of Nb Content and water quenching on microstructure and mechanical properties of Ti-Nb alloys fabricated by spark plasma sintering

ABSTRACT

Titanium-niobium (Ti-Nb) alloys have been extensively studied for medical implants due to their advantageous mechanical properties and biocompatibility. However, the stress shielding effect remains a challenge. This research investigated the effects of Nb content and enhancement of α′′ formation on the mechanical properties of Ti-xNb alloys (x = 0, 5, 15 and 25%) fabricated by spark plasma sintering. Water quenching from the β phase induced α′′ phase formation in Ti-5Nb and Ti-15Nb samples, thereby reducing their Young’s modulus values but was not observed in commercially pure titanium (CP-Ti) and Ti-25Nb. Results showed that heat treatment with water quenching induced α′′ phase formation and can be used to tailor the properties of Ti-Nb alloys fabricated by SPS. This technique can also be used to enhance material ductility at high β-stabilizer content, as observed in Ti-25Nb samples.

KEYWORDS:

• Ti-Nb alloys
• mechanical properties
• Young’s modulus
• spark plasma sintering
• water quenching

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Data availability

The datasets generated during this study are available from the corresponding author on reasonable request.

Additional information

Funding

This research was financially supported by The Petch Pra Jom Klao Master's Degree Research Scholarship from King Mongkut’s University of Technology Thonburi (KMUTT) [grant number MD/0038/2562], and access to equipment was partially supported by the National Metal and Materials Technology Center (MTEC) in Thailand.

Notes on contributors

Nattawood Suesawadwanid

Nattawood Suesawadwanid is currently a Master’s student at the Department of Mechanical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, King Mongkut’s University of Technology Thonburi (KMUTT). He has been researching powder metallurgy and titanium alloys since 2018.

Anak Khantachawana

Anak Khantachawana is currently an Associate Professor at the Department of Mechanical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, King Mongkut’s University of Technology Thonburi (KMUTT), Thailand. His research focuses on the processing of NiTi alloys for biomedical applications and medical devices.

Kasama Srirussamee

Kasama Srirussamee is currently an Assistant Professor at the Department of Biomedical Engineering, School of Engineering, King Mongkut’s Institute of Technology Ladkrabang (KMITL), Thailand. His research focuses on manufacture and characterization of biomedical materials and alloys.

Katsuyoshi Kondoh

Katsuyoshi Kondoh is currently a Professor at the Department of Composite Materials Processing, Join and Welding Research Institute (JWRI), Osaka University, Japan. He is an expert in powder metallurgy and additive manufacturing of Ti alloys. He has contributed to at least 369 publications in journals and 269 international conference proceedings.