TY  - JOUR
AU  - Signor, Fernanda
AU  - Pereira, Jonas Felipe
AU  - Faita, Fabrício Luiz
AU  - Bram, Martin
AU  - Daudt, Natália de Freitas
TI  - Solution heat treatment of Ti-Nb alloys using a molten salt shield
JO  - Materials letters
VL  - 338
SN  - 0167-577X
CY  - New York, NY [u.a.]
PB  - Elsevier
M1  - FZJ-2023-02338
SP  - 134039
PY  - 2023
AB  - 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.
LB  - PUB:(DE-HGF)16
UR  - <Go to ISI:>//WOS:000939891500001
DO  - DOI:10.1016/j.matlet.2023.134039
UR  - https://juser.fz-juelich.de/record/1008430
ER  -