Processing considerations for cast Ti–25Nb–3Mo–3Zr–2Sn biomedical alloys

Metastable β-Ti alloys are becoming attractive materials for structural biomedical applications due to the low modulus of elasticity that these alloys can offer. Stabilizing the β-phase and suppressing the formation of other phases such as martensite through careful composition control and processing, are essential to achieving a low modulus. Traditional manufacturing processes such as investment casting may be a suitable production pathway for these new components but a concern is that the compositional fluctuations that occur during solidification may affect the stability of the β-phase. This work characterises the segregation of solute in the Ti–25Nb–3Mo–3Zr–2Sn alloy and discusses the practical implications of this segregation in biomedical components produced via solidification routes.

► We model and characterise the solute redistribution during solidification of a metastable β-titanium alloy. ► We discuss the implications of solute redistribution on phase stability. ► We discuss important processing considerations for biomedical β-titanium alloys produced via a solidification route.