Titanium alloys, particularly Ti6Al4V, are commonly used in biomedical applications. However, the inclusion of aluminum (Al) and vanadium (V) in this alloy can cause cytotoxic effects in the human body, resulting in Alzheimer’s disease and cancer. This study compares the performance of biocompatible alloys containing non-toxic elements, such as tin (Sn) and niobium (Nb), which are considered safe for implantation. Two sets of alloys were selected, Ti5Sn and Ti5Sn5Nb, and their properties were compared to Ti6Al4V. First, the alloys were prepared using a power metallurgical technique. Then, their phase analysis, hardness, wear resistance, strength, and corrosion performance in simulated body fluid (SBF) solution were characterized. Optical microscopy was used to study the microstructure, XRD was used to identify phases, and electrochemical testing was conducted to assess the alloys’ anodic and cathodic characteristics. Nanoindentation techniques were used to analyze surface characteristics, such as elastic modulus, nano hardness, and wear resistance. The results showed the alloys containing Nb and Sn had lower corrosion rates in SBF solution compared to Al-containing alloys. Moreover, Nb-containing alloys exhibited the highest hardness, 72% higher than Al-containing alloys. The corrosion-resistant properties of the alloys containing Nb and Sn were higher than those without Nb or Sn, suggesting they may be ideal for orthopedic implants in humans.

Ti6Al4V alloy is a material with great strength, low-slung modulus, inferior density, and a virtuous blend of mechanical and exceptional corrosion resistance. However, it does not offer good osseointegration and bone development properties. Conversely, hydroxyapatite (HAP) is highly bioactive in nature to bind with the nearby bone tissues when implanted in the host body. In this work, we have extracted HAP from bovine bones by using the thermal decomposition method. This was followed by its deposition onto the Ti6Al4V alloy using the Electrophoretic Deposition (EPD) technique. TiO2 is used as a bond coat layer to increase the adhesion between HAP and Ti6Al4V alloy substrates. The coated samples after sintering exhibited excellent adhesion. This was followed by characterization using Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) and Fourier Transformed Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR). FTIR and SEM confirm the formation of HAP and its presence after the immersion in SBF. Vicker hardness tester confirms the increase in hardness value of coated samples up to 35%. Potentiostat tests were conducted to compare the corrosion rate of both samples. In addition, the particle sizes were also identified by a laser particle analyzer, whereas X-Ray Diffraction (XRD) technique was also used to determine the crystalline phases of alloy and HAP.

There are two common categories of implants that are used in medical sciences, i.e., orthopedic and dental ones. In this study, dental implant materials are focused such as Ti6Al4V alloys that are used for the replacement of lost teeth due to their high strength and biocompatibility. However, they cause infections in nearby tissues due to elemental release (potentially Al and V). Thus, manganese is selected to be incorporated into the alloy since it is also present in the human body in the form of traces. Different sets of implants were produced, i.e., Ti5Mn and Ti10Mn (where 5 and 10 describe the percentage of Mn) by using the powder metallurgy technique. This was followed by characterization techniques, including X-ray fluorescence spectroscopy (XRF), X-ray diffractometer (XRD), optical microscope (OM), and nanoindenter. The very aim of this study is to compare the microstructural evolutions, density, and mechanical properties of reference alloys and the ones produced in this study. Results show the microstructure of Ti6Al4V consists of the alpha (α) and beta (β) phases, while Ti5Mn and Ti10Mn revealed the beta (β) phases. The Ti5Mn alloy showed excellent mechanical properties than that of the Ti6Al4V counterpart. Extensive discussion is presented in light of the observed results. The relative density of Ti5Mn alloy was found to be enhanced than that of reference alloy.