MECHANICAL-PROPERTIES OF BIOMEDICAL TITANIUM-ALLOYS

Titanium alloys are expected to be much more widely used for implant m aterials in the medical and dental fields because of their superior bi ocompatibility, corrosion resistance and specific strength compared wi th other metallic implant materials. Pure titanium and Ti-6Al-4V, in p articular, Ti-6Al-4V ELI have been, however, mainly used for implant m aterials among various titanium alloys to date. V free alloys like Ti- 6Al-7Nb and Ti-5A1-2.5Fe have been recently developed for biomedical u se. More recently V and Al free alloys have been developed. Titanium a lloys composed of non-toxic elements like Nb, Ta, Zr and so on with lo wer modulus have been started to be developed mainly in the USA. The b eta type alloys are now the main target for medical materials. The mec hanical properties of the titanium alloys developed for implant materi als to date are described in this paper. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science S.A . All rights reserved.