%0 Journal Article
%A Signor, Fernanda
%A Pereira, Jonas Felipe
%A Faita, Fabrício Luiz
%A Bram, Martin
%A Daudt, Natália de Freitas
%T Solution heat treatment of Ti-Nb alloys using a molten salt shield
%J Materials letters
%V 338
%@ 0167-577X
%C New York, NY [u.a.]
%I Elsevier
%M FZJ-2023-02338
%P 134039
%D 2023
%X Ti-Nb alloys have attracted growing attention for biomedical implant application due its low elastic modulus. Nb is a β-stabilizer in Ti alloys and retains its high biocompatibility. Thermal treatment plays a key role for optimization of mechanical properties and microstructure of Ti-Nb alloys. However, high oxygen affinity of Ti alloys requires the use of a protective atmosphere during their processing at high temperatures. In this context, we propose the use of molten salt as novel atmosphere protection during solution heat treatment of Ti-Nb alloys avoiding elaborated encapsulation. For that, Ti-Nb parts were solution treated in molten KCl followed by water quenching. Microstructure and phase transformation were evaluated by SEM, EDS, X-ray Diffraction, Elastic Modulus and Vickers microhardness measurements. No evidence of oxidation of Ti-Nb parts was found, which suggested that molten salt was an effective measure to protect Ti alloys from oxidation. After treatment, a martensitic microstructure was achieved. A martensitic structure enables to decrease elastic modulus to ca. 35 GPa, which can avoid stress shield in the case of bone implant application.
%F PUB:(DE-HGF)16
%9 Journal Article
%U <Go to ISI:>//WOS:000939891500001
%R 10.1016/j.matlet.2023.134039
%U https://juser.fz-juelich.de/record/1008430