New biocompatible titanium alloys with minimal alloying (Ti–O–Fe–C–Si–Au / Ti–Mo–In) as an alternative to Ti-6Al-4V
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.33216/1998-7927-2025-294-8-11-17Keywords:
titanium alloys, microstructure, alloying, β-stabilisation, biocompatibility, mechanical properties, implantologyAbstract
The paper examines contemporary approaches to the design and development of advanced titanium alloys for biomedical applications, with a focus on microstructural engineering, phase composition control, and functional property optimisation through variation of alloying additions and thermomechanical treatments. It is demonstrated that the conventional Ti-6Al-4V alloy, despite its widespread utilisation, exhibits several intrinsic drawbacks, such as a significant mismatch in elastic modulus compared to natural bone tissue and the risk of releasing cytotoxic alloying components, particularly aluminium and vanadium. In this context, two innovative alloying strategies are considered. The first involves multicomponent alloying of the titanium matrix with biocompatible elements, exemplified by Ti–O–Fe–C–Si–Au systems, which provide grain refinement, increased dislocation density, enhanced strength, and corrosion resistance under long-term exposure to aggressive physiological environments. The second strategy focuses on targeted β-stabilisation, as realised in β-Ti–Mo–In alloys, which promote the formation of a stable β-phase with reduced elastic modulus and improved ductility, ensuring superior compatibility with biomechanical requirements. Experimental investigations in recent years confirm that controlled oxygen and iron alloying increases yield strength above 900 MPa while maintaining elongation of around 15 %, whereas minor additions of gold significantly improve biocompatibility without compromising plasticity. At the same time, β-Ti–Mo–In alloys demonstrate stable phase configurations and elastic moduli close to those of bone tissue, reducing the risk of stress shielding and ensuring long-term implant reliability. It is established that the combination of minimal alloying strategies with optimised thermomechanical processing enables the simultaneous achievement of high mechanical strength, corrosion resistance, and biocompatibility. These findings underline the prospects of further research into controlled phase transformations, texture evolution, and strengthening mechanisms, opening up opportunities for the design of next-generation titanium-based materials with improved clinical efficiency and engineering applicability.
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