Zr–Ti–Nb porous alloys for biomedical application

Recent studies linked to the production of implants focus on the development of porous materials, as they provide good biological fixation to the surrounding tissue through bone tissue ingrowth into the porous network. ch on the biological behavior of metals has shown that the composition of implant biomaterials must be carefully selected to avoid adverse reactions. Ti, Zr and Nb are non-toxic metals with a good compatibility. present study, Zr–Ti–Nb foams of two compositions (Zr–34.4%Ti–1.6%Nb and Zr–34.5%Ti–5.5%Nb) were fabricated starting from hydride–dehydride powdered metal using space-holding fillers. Both foams displayed an interconnected porous structure with a porosity of 70%. The average pore size was around 260 μm. The Youngʹs modulus and the compressive plateau stress were observed to vary with the Nb content in the range of 0.3–1.4 GPa and 11–32 MPa, respectively. All alloys tested – in porous and solid forms – showed excellent biocompatibility in subcutaneous as well as in bone tissues. The alloy with more Nb content showed pronounced osteoinductive properties.