Abstract
The use of titanium alloys as biomaterials is increasing due to their superior biocompatibility and enhanced corrosion resistance compared to conventional stainless steels and cobalt-based alloys. Ti-6Al-4V ($\alpha+\beta$type) alloy instead of pure titanium ($\alpha$type) is being widely used as biomaterials has some characteristics such as high fatigue strength, tensile strength and corrosion resistance. But it has been reported recently that the vanadium element expresses cytotoxicity and the aluminium element is related with dementia of Alzheimer type and neurotoxicity. In order to overcome their detrimental effects, $\beta$-phase stabilizer Nb was chosen in the present study. This paper was described the influence of phase changes of Ti-Nb alloys on mechanical properties. Ti-3wt.%Nb($\alpha$type),Ti-20wt.%Nb($\alpha+\beta$type) and Ti-40wt.%Nb($\beta$type) alloys were melted by vacuum arc furnace. The specimens were homogenized at 1050$^{\circ}C$ for 24hr and were then hot rolled to 50% reduction. Each alloys were solution heat treated at $\beta$ zone and $\alpha+\beta$ zone after homogenization and then were aged. The mechanical properties of Ti alloys were analysed by hardness test, tensile test, elongation test and SEM test. The results can be summarized as follows: 1) The higher hardness value of $\alpha+\beta$type alloy was obtained compared to the, $\alpha,\beta$type alloys. 2) The aged treated showed better hardness compared to the solution heat treated, homogenized. 3) In the case of solution and aging treatment at $\beta$region, the $\alpha+\beta$type alloy showed the most highest tensile strength and $\beta$type alloy showed the best elongation.