Development of thermo-mechanical processing for fabricating highly durable β-type Ti-Nb-Ta-Zr rod for use in spinal fixation devices.

The mechanical strength of a beta titanium alloy such as Ti-Nb-Ta-Zr alloy (TNTZ) can be improved significantly by thermo-mechanical treatment. In this study, TNTZ was subjected to solution treatment, cold caliber rolling, and cold swaging before aging treatment to form a rod for spinal fixation. The {110}(β) are aligned parallel to the cross-section with two strong peaks approximately 180° apart, facing one another, in the TNTZ rods subjected to cold caliber rolling and six strong peaks at approximately 60° intervals, facing one another, in the TNTZ rods subjected to cold swaging. Therefore, the TNTZ rods subjected to cold swaging have a more uniform structure than those subjected to cold caliber rolling. The orientation relationship between the α and β phases is different. A [110](β)//[121](α), (112)(β)//(210)(α) orientation relationship is observed in the TNTZ rods subjected to aging treatment at 723 K after solution treatment and cold caliber rolling. On the other hand, a [110](β)//[001](α), (112)(β)//(200)(α) orientation relationship is observed in TNTZ rod subjected to aging treatment at 723 K after cold swaging. A high 0.2% proof stress of about 1200 MPa, high elongation of 18%, and high fatigue strength of 950 MPa indicate that aging treatment at 723 K after cold swaging is the optimal thermo-mechanical process for a TNTZ rod.