β-Type Zr–Nb–Ti biomedical materials with high plasticity and low modulus for hard tissue replacements

In order to develop new biomedical materials for hard tissue replacements, Zr–20Nb–xTi (x=0, 3, 7, 11 and 15) alloys with required properties were designed and prepared by using the vacuum arc melting method for the first time. Phase analysis and microstructural observation showed that all the as cast samples consisted of equiaxed β-Zr phase. The mechanical properties and fracture behaviors of the Zr–20Nb–xTi alloys have been analyzed. It is found that these alloys exhibit high plasticity, moderate compressive strength (1044–1325 MPa) and yield stress (854–1080 MPa), high elastic energy (12–20 MJ/m3) and low Youngʹs modulus (28–31 GPa). This good combination of mechanical properties makes them potential biomedical materials for hard tissue replacement.