β-Type Zr-Nb-Ti biomedical materials with high plasticity and low modulus for hard tissue replacements.

In order to develop new biomedical materials for hard tissue replacements, Zr-20Nb-xTi (x=0, 3, 7, 11 and 15) alloys with required properties were designed and prepared by using the vacuum arc melting method for the first time. Phase analysis and microstructural observation showed that all the as cast samples consisted of equiaxed β-Zr phase. The mechanical properties and fracture behaviors of the Zr-20Nb-xTi alloys have been analyzed. It is found that these alloys exhibit high plasticity, moderate compressive strength (1044-1325MPa) and yield stress (854-1080MPa), high elastic energy (12-20MJ/m(3)) and low Young's modulus (28-31GPa). This good combination of mechanical properties makes them potential biomedical materials for hard tissue replacement.