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Ti6Al7Nb–TiB nanocomposites for ortho-implant applications

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  • FOCUS ISSUE: Advances in Titanium Bio-Implants
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Abstract

The aim of this work was to study tribological behavior and biological response of selective laser-melted Ti6Al7Nb-based TiB-reinforced composites. The synergistic properties achieved by different content of the in situ TiB phase (1.5 and 3.0 wt%) enhanced the wear resistance of Ti6Al7Nb. Abrasion and microplastic deformations were the predominant wear mechanisms observed in these composites. The contact angle of simulated body fluid on TiB-reinforced sample surfaces revealed that the surfaces were moderately hydrophilic. In vitro cell studies with pre-osteoblasts confirmed the non-toxic nature of all the three samples (matrix—Ti6Al7Nb, 1.5, and 3.0 wt% TiB composites) studied here. The enhanced wear resistance coupled with its non-toxic nature and good cell proliferation demonstrated that the Ti6Al7Nb–TiB composites are promising candidates for the fabrication of biomedical implants. In addition, the results demonstrate that Ti6Al7Nb composites can be easily fabricated by solidification-based additive manufacturing processes.

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Acknowledgments

N.S. would like to thank the financial support from C V Raman Fellowship funded by the Indian Institute of Science (IISc) Bangalore and the European Regional Development Fund through Project ASTRA6-6. This work was supported in part by funding from the Department of Science and Technology, Government of India (DST/NM/NB/2018/119(G)). The technical support provided by Tallinn University of Technology (Tallinn), Estonia, and Department of Mechanical Engineering, IISc is acknowledged. Further financial support from the High-end Foreign Experts Recruitment Program (G2021163004L) and the Guangdong International Science and Technology Cooperation Program (2021A0505050002) are appreciated.

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  1. These authors contributed equally to the work and hence considered as first authors.

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Materials Engineering, Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore, 560012, India

    Neera Singh, Monika Rajput & Kaushik Chatterjee

  2. Department of Mechanical Engineering, Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore, 560012, India

    Vimal Edachery & Satish V. Kailas

  3. Department of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering, Tallinn University of Technology, Ehitajate tee 5, 19086, Tallinn, Estonia

    Neera Singh & K. G. Prashanth

  4. CBCMT, School of Mechanical Engineering, Vellore Institute of Technology, Vellore, 632014, India

    K. G. Prashanth

  5. Erich Schmid Institute of Materials Science, Austrian Academy of Science, Jahnstrasse 12, 8700, Leoben, Austria

    K. G. Prashanth

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  1. Neera Singh
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Singh, N., Edachery, V., Rajput, M. et al. Ti6Al7Nb–TiB nanocomposites for ortho-implant applications. Journal of Materials Research 37, 2525–2535 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1557/s43578-022-00578-2

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