Mitsuo Niinomi

Electrochemical Behaviors of Biomedical Nanograined β-Type Titanium Alloys

The microstructural evolution and its effect on biocompatibility of TNTZ through HPT processing were investigated systematically in this study. TNTZAHPT shows an enhanced mechanical biocompatibility, which is characterized by a higher tensile strength (1375 MPa) and hardness (450 HV) than those of TNTZST, TNTZAT, and Ti64 ELI while maintaining a relatively low Young’s modulus. In this study, such microstructural refinement of TNTZ and its effect on electrochemical biocompatibility through HPT processing are investigated systematically in this study. The microstructure of TNTZAT consists of randomly distributed needle-like α precipitates in the equiaxed β grains with a diameter of approximately 40 m. The microstructure of TNTZAHPT consists of nanograined (NG) elongated β grains that have subgrains of non-uniform morphologies resulting from distortion by severe torsional deformation. Furthermore, the β grains and subgrains are surrounded by non-equilibrium grain boundaries. The needle-like α precipitates are completely refined to a nanograined. TNTZAHPT exhibits an enhanced combination of excellent corrosion performance and improved cellular response compared to TNTZST, TNTZAT, and Ti64 ELI.