MRI compatible Nb–Ta–Zr alloys used for vascular stents: Optimization for mechanical properties

With the increased usage of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) as a diagnostic tool in clinic, the currently-used metals for vascular stents, such as 316L stainless steel (SS), Co–Cr alloys and Ni–Ti alloys, are challenged by their unsatisfactory MRI compatibility, due to their constituents containing ferromagnetic elements. To provide more MRI compatible vascular stents, the Nb–xTa–2Zr (30≤x≤70) series alloys were selected in the current work. Several key properties of these alloys were optimized in terms of stent requirements, including magnetic susceptibility, elastic modulus and tensile properties. In the as-cast state, a single-phase solid solution with bcc structure was formed in the alloys. The volume magnetic susceptibility (χv) and Youngʹs modulus (E) of the alloys scaled linearly with the Ta content. Increasing the Ta content gave rise to the decreased χv and the increased E, together with the elevated yield strength but less-changed elongation. From multiple requirements for the stents, the Nb–60Ta–2Zr alloy exhibits an optimal properties, including the χv of about 3% of the 316L SS, the E of 142 GPa superior to pure niobium, high mass density of 12.03 g/cm3 favored to the X-ray visibility, yield strength of ~330 MPa comparable to the 316L SS and a elongation of ~24%. These remarkable advantages make it quite promising as a new candidate of stent metals.