Manufacturing Technology 2020, 20(5):690-696

Characterization of β-Ti alloy prepared by SLM method

Ilona Vonavkova^1,, Dalibor Vojtech¹, David Palousek²

¹ Department of Metals and Corrosion Engineering, University of Chemistry and Technology in Prague. Technicka 5, 166 28 Praha 6 - Dejvice. Czech Republic

² Department of Reverse Engineering and Additive Technologies, Brno University of Technology, Antoninska 548/1, 601 90 Brno, Czech Republic

Ti-6Al-4V alloy is the most commercially used material for the production of orthopedic implants. However, despite its excellent properties, it is not an ideal material for use in medicine in terms of vanadium toxicity and relatively high modulus of elasticity. Titanium β-alloys could be a suitable replacement in future years for Ti-6Al-4V alloy, as they have a lower modulus of elasticity and contain non-toxic elements. Some of the alloying elements may even increase the biocompatibility of the alloy. In addition, a progressive 3D printing method would allow custom-made implants with the required properties to be printed. The aim of this work was to characterize the β alloy Ti-30Nb by Selective Laser Melting (SLM) method and to determine its mechanical properties. In addition, heat treatment was applied in order to homogenize the structure. Ti-30Nb alloy was compared in as-built state and in annealed state.

Keywords: Titanium alloy, Ti-Nb, 3D printing, SLM

Grants and funding:

Specific university research – grant No A1_FCHT_2020_003.

Received: July 28, 2020; Revised: September 30, 2020; Accepted: October 14, 2020; Prepublished online: November 23, 2020; Published: December 14, 2020  Show citation