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Microstructure and properties of as-cast Zr-2.5Nb-1X (X = Ru, Mo, Ta and Si) alloys for biomedical application

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Abstract

The microstructure and properties of as-cast Zr-2.5Nb-1X (X = Ru, Mo, Ta and Si) alloy are screened to explore novel biomedical zirconium alloys for magnetic resonance applications. Corresponding microstructure and phase transformation were characterized using X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscope (SEM) and transmission electron microscope (TEM). Hardness test, magnetic detection and electrochemical corrosion measurements are taken to present properties. The results show that all alloys consist of α-Zr, β-Zr and ω-Zr. α-Zr and β-Zr mainly exist in the form of parallel and intersecting plates, and nanoscale ω-Zr is dispersed in β-Zr plate. Especially, blocky ω-Zr with needle-like α-Zr is only found in plate-free blocks of Zr-2.5Nb-1Mo/Ru alloy. The orientation relationship (OR) between α- Zr and ω-Zr follows \( \left[ {11\bar{2}0} \right]_{\upalpha} \)//\( \left[ {1\bar{1}01} \right]_{\upomega} \) and \( \left( {0001} \right)_{\upalpha} \)//(\( \left[ {\bar{1}011} \right]_{\upomega} \) 011)ω. Combining this OR with the OR between β-Zr and ω-Zr, the transformation relationship between β-Zr/ω-Zr and α-Zr is also discussed. Zr-2.5Nb-1Ru alloy with high corrosion potential (− 0.500 V), low corrosion rate (0.949 μm·year–1) and low magnetic susceptibility (92 × 10−6) shows great potential to be a novel biomedical implant with magnetic resonance imaging compatibility. Based on the experimental results, the possible relationship among alloying elements, microstructure and properties has been established in these Zr-2.5Nb-1X alloys.

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摘要

为了探索用于磁共振领域的新型生物医用锆合金，铸态Zr-2.5Nb-1X(X= Ru, Mo, Ta and Si)合金的微观组织和性能 被浏览。对应的微观结构和相变被X 射线、扫描电镜和透射电镜表征。硬度，磁学性能和电化学腐蚀性能被用来 呈现合金的性能。结果显示所有的合金均含有α-Zr、 β-Zr 和ω-Zr。α-Zr 和β-Zr 通常以平行和交错板条的形式存 在，纳米尺度的ω-Zr 弥散分布在β-Zr 板条内。特别地，在Zr-2.5Nb-1Mo/Ru 合金中发现了含有针状α-Zr 的块状 ω-Zr。α-Zr 和ω-Zr 的取向关系遵循[11"2" ̅0]α // [1"1" ̅01]ω and (0001)α // ("1" ̅011)ω。结合该种取向以及β-Zr 和 ω-Zr 的取向，讨论了α-Zr 与 β-Zr 和ω-Zr 之间的转变关系。由于拥有高的腐蚀电位、低的腐蚀速率和低的磁化 率，Zr-2.5Nb-1Ru 在新型磁兼容生物植入物显示出巨大潜力。基于Zr-2.5Nb-1X 合金的实验结果，合金元素、微 观组织和性能三者之间可能存在的关系被建立。

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Acknowledgements

This work was financially supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (No. 51421001) and the Program of the Ministry of Education of China for Introducing Talents of Discipline to Universities (No. B16007).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Electron Microscopy Center, College of Materials Science and Engineering, Chongqing University, Chongqing, 400044, China

    Xi-Nu Tan, Ri-Sheng Qiu & Qing Liu

  2. International Joint Laboratory for Light Alloys (MOE), College of Materials Science and Engineering, Chongqing University, Chongqing, 400044, China

    Xi-Nu Tan, Ri-Sheng Qiu & Qing Liu

  3. TU Ilmenau, Chair Materials for Electrical Engineering and Electronics, Institute of Materials Science and Engineering and Institute of Micro- and Nanotechnologies MacroNano, Ilmenau, 98693, Germany

    Fei-Tao Li

  4. Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB, R3T 5V6, Canada

    Yu-Shun Liu

  5. Key Laboratory for Light-Weight Materials, Nanjing Tech University, Nanjing, 210009, China

    Qing Liu

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Tan, XN., Li, FT., Liu, YS. et al. Microstructure and properties of as-cast Zr-2.5Nb-1X (X = Ru, Mo, Ta and Si) alloys for biomedical application. Rare Met. 42, 3497–3509 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12598-023-02291-3

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