A novel combinatorial approach for understanding microstructural evolution and its relationship to mechanical properties in metallic biomaterials

The new generation of metallic biomaterials for prosthesis implantation (orthopedic and dental) typically have a Ti base with fully biocompatible alloying additions such as Nb, Ta, Zr, Mo, Fe and Sn. While the binary Ti–Ta and the ternary Ti–Nb–Ta systems are promising, the large composition space afforded by these systems offers tremendous scope in terms of alloy design via optimization of alloy composition and thermomechanical treatment. In the present paper a novel combinatorial approach has been developed for rapidly exploring the microstructural evolution and microstructure–microhardness (or elastic modulus) relationships in these systems. Using directed laser deposition, compositionally graded alloy samples have been fabricated and subsequently heat-treated to affect different microstructures in terms of the volume fraction and distribution of the α phase in the β matrix as a function of composition. Subsequently, composition-specific indentation-based hardness and modulus information has been obtained from these graded samples, and the resulting data have been used to develop relationships between the composition, microstructure and mechanical properties. Such rapid combinatorial assessments can be very useful in optimizing not only the alloy composition but also the desired microstructure for achieving the best combination of properties for specific orthopedic or dental applications.