Properties of Porous Ti–26Nb–6Mo–1.5Sn Alloy Produced via Powder Metallurgy for Biomedical Applications

Abstract

The aim of the present study was to assess the possibility of producing porous Ti–26Nb–6Mo–1.5Sn (at %) alloy using combined mechanical alloying and sintering for potential biomedical application. The use of high energy ball milling method was helpful for initial synthesis of initial elements and for obtaining a powder with particulates of different grain size, which exerts an effect on the presence and different size of pores in the alloy. X-ray diffraction results confirmed the formation of the α nanocrystalline phase and the partially phase transformation from α phase to nanocrystalline β phase during high-energy ball milling process. During the sintering process of green compacts the phase transformation to the β phase and slightly change of the lattice parameters depending on the milling time are observed. The material was also tested by the nanointedation and tribological tests, the latter being considered as a first look at the mechanical properties of the material obtained by mechanical alloying. The samples—after sintering powder mixture previously milled for 40 h—exhibit the lowest reduced elastic modulus among the studied alloys. In the case of sliding tests in Ringer’s solution, the alloy specimens exhibited a surface deformation with some visible grooves, which indicates a greater fraction of abrasive wear component during the sliding test in Ringer solution.