Structure and mechanical properties of Ti–5Cr based alloy with Mo addition

The effects of molybdenum (Mo) on the structure and mechanical properties of a Ti–5Cr-based alloy were studied with an emphasis on improving its strength/modulus ratio. Commercially pure titanium (c.p. Ti) was used as a control. As-cast Ti–5Cr and a series of Ti–5Cr–xMo (x = 1, 3, 5, 7, 9 and 11 wt.%) alloys were prepared by using a commercial arc-melting vacuum-pressure casting system, and investigated with X-ray diffraction (XRD) for phase analysis. Three-point bending tests were performed to evaluate the mechanical properties of all specimens and their fractured surfaces were observed by using scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The experimental results indicated that Ti–5Cr–7Mo, Ti–5Cr–9Mo and Ti–5Cr–11Mo alloys exhibited ductile properties, and the β-phase Ti–5Cr–9Mo alloy exhibited the lowest bending modulus. However, the Ti–5Cr–3Mo and Ti–5Cr–5Mo alloys had much higher bending moduli due to the formation of the ω phase during quenching. It is noteworthy that the Ti–5Cr–9Mo alloy exhibited the highest bending strength/modulus ratios at 26.0, which is significantly higher than those of c.p. Ti (8.5) and Ti–5Cr (13.3). Furthermore, the elastically recoverable angle of the Ti–5Cr–9Mo alloy (30°) was greater than that of c.p. Ti (2.7°). The reasonably high strength (or high strength/modulus ratio) β-phase Ti–5Cr–9Mo alloy exhibited a low modulus, ductile property, and excellent elastic recovery capability, which qualifies it as a novel implant materials.