The microstructure and properties of Ti–Mo–Nb alloys for biomedical application

A group of Ti–10Mo–nNb alloys (n = 3, 7, 10) were prepared using arc melting and graphite mould casting. When n = 3, the as-prepared alloy had a composite microstructure containing an equiaxed β-Ti phase dispersed in a α-Ti matrix. When n = 7 and 10, the as-prepared alloys had microstructure only containing equiaxed β-Ti phase. The equiaxed crystal grain of Ti–10Mo–10Nb alloy was obviously finer. These new alloys exhibited high Vickers hardness values of 394–441 HV, high compression strength of 1717–1918 MPa, high yield strength of 1404–1854 MPa, and low Young's modulus in the range of 24.7–28.4 GPa, together with large plastic strains. The bending strength of Ti–Mo–Nb alloys was in the range of 701–1489 MPa. The combination of high strength and low elastic modulus of Ti–Mo–Nb alloys offer potential advantages in biomedical applications.