Synthesis and characterization of Ti–Ta–Nb–Mn foams

• Published in: Materials Science & Engineering C 2016-01, Vol.58, p.420-431
• Main Authors: Aguilar, C., Guerra, C., Lascano, S., Guzman, D., Rojas, P.A., Thirumurugan, M., Bejar, L., Medina, A.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Alloys; Alloys - chemical synthesis; Alloys - chemistry; Biocompatibility; Bones; Compacts; Compressive Strength; Elements; Foamed metals; Foams; Manganese - chemistry; Metallic foams; Microscopy, Electron, Scanning; Microscopy, Electron, Transmission; Niobium - chemistry; Optical Imaging; Particle Size; Porosity; Powder metallurgy; Powders; Spectrometry, X-Ray Emission; Surgical implants; Synthesis; Tantalum - chemistry; Titanium - chemistry; Ti–Nb–Ta–Mn alloys; Transmission electron microscopy; X-Ray Diffraction
• ISSN: 0928-4931; 1873-0191
• DOI: 10.1016/j.msec.2015.08.053

The unprecedented increase in human life expectancy have produced profound changes in the prevailing patterns of disease, like the observed increased in degenerative disc diseases, which cause degradation of the bones. Ti–Nb–Ta alloys are promising materials to replace the damaged bone due to their excellent mechanical and corrosion resistance properties. In general metallic foams are widely used for medical application due to their lower elastic moduli compare to bulk materials. In this work we studied the synthesis of 34Nb–29Ta–xMn (x: 2, 4 and 6wt.% Mn) alloy foams (50% v/v) using ammonium hydrogen carbonate as a space holder. Alloys were produced through mechanical alloying in a planetary mill for 50h. Green compacts were obtained by applying 430MPa pressure. To remove the space holder from the matrix the green compacts were heated to 180°C for 1.5h and after sintered at 1300°C for 3h. Foams were characterized by x-ray diffraction, scanning, transmission electron microscopy and optical microscopy. The elastic modulus of the foam was measured as ~30GPa, and the values are almost equal to the values predicted using various theoretical models. [Display omitted] •Metallic foams of Ti–34Nb–29Ta–xMn (x: 2, 4 and 6wt.% Mn) alloys were synthetized.•The macro and micro pore produced have sizes smaller than 600 and 20μm, respectively.•The macro and micro pores shows good characteristics to cell adhesion and bone ingrowth.•Elastic properties were comparable to that exhibited by cortical bone.