J. Mater. Sci. Technol. ›› 2023, Vol. 153: 128-138.DOI: 10.1016/j.jmst.2022.12.061

• Research Article • Previous Articles     Next Articles

Development of Ti-26Nb-1.2TiC shape memory composite for biomedical applications

Quanxiang Suna, Dechuang Zhanga,*, Xian Tongb, Jianguo Linb,*, Jixing Linc, Yuncang Lid, Cuie Wend,*   

  1. aSchool of Materials Science and Engineering, Xiangtan University, Xiangtan 411105, China;
    bKey Laboratory of Low Dimensional Materials & Application Technology, Xiangtan University, Ministry of Education, Hunan 411105, China;
    cInstitute of Stomatology, School and Hospital of Stomatology, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou 325027, China;
    dSchool of Engineering, RMIT University, Melbourne, Victoria 3001, Australia
  • Received:2022-04-14 Revised:2022-11-20 Accepted:2022-12-04 Published:2023-08-01 Online:2023-03-05
  • Contact: *E-mail addresses: dczhang@xtu.edu.cn (D. Zhang), lin_j_g@xtu.edu.cn (J. Lin), cuie.wen@rmit.edu.au (C. Wen).

Abstract: Ti-Nb alloys have great potential in biomedical applications as bone-implant materials due to their low elastic modulus, superelasticity, high corrosion resistance, and good biocompatibility. However, the low yield strength and poor superelasticity of Ti-Nb alloys restrict their practical clinical applications. Here, we report the mechanical properties and superelasticity, corrosion behavior, and biocompatibility of a Ti-26 at.% Nb-1.2 vol.% TiC (Ti-26Nb-1.2TiC) shape memory composite (SMC) prepared by vacuum arc melting and hot rolling. The yield strength, critical stress for inducing martensitic transformation, and elongation of the Ti-26Nb-1.2TiC SMC and a Ti-26Nb alloy were 460 and 337 MPa, 251 and 115 MPa, and 27.2% and 24.1%, respectively. The recovery rate of the SMC under 4% pre-strain reached 91.4%, which was 1.2 times that of the Ti-26Nb. Electrochemical tests in Hanks’ solution revealed that the corrosion current density, passive current density, and corrosion rate of the SMC were lower than those of the Ti-26Nb. Both the Ti-26Nb alloy and Ti-26Nb-1.2TiC SMC showed good cell viability with grade 0 cytotoxicity in relation to MG-63 osteosarcoma cells.

Key words: Corrosion resistance, Cytotoxicity, Mechanical properties, Superelasticity, Ti-Nb alloy, Ti-Nb-TiC shape memory composite