Titanium Alloys for Biomedical Applications

This article discusses the properties and applications of Titanium alloys in the field of biomedical applications. It explores their biocompatibility, resistance to corrosion, and low density. The article also highlights the effects of body fluids and metal sensitivity on these alloys and the need for further studies.

Titanium alloys for biomedical
applications
Introduction
Titanium alloys are the best materials to use as a biomaterial for implants due to its
various physical and chemical properties like inertness, elasticity, low density, biocompatibility
among others. However, the material components in the alloy may have some effects/or may be
affected by body environments such as body fluids, pH, temperature among others. So there is
great need to investigate such effects of implant materials on the body for its chemical effects
and metal sensitivity (Khorasani et al., 2015).
Titanium alloys have properties such as tissue-compatibility, resistance to corrosion, and
low density. These properties make them more biologically and chemically compatible with both
human tissues and body fluids. However, the effects of body fluids and metal sensitivity may
cause some problems with these implants. The biomaterials for implants are degraded due to
varying environmental changes inside the body like pH, temperature, ions among others. Metals
undergo chemical reactions with body fluids to produce chemical compounds that may be
hazardous to normal body functioning. One of the main objectives of implants is to be
chemically inert and biocompatible with the body so that it may not be deteriorated by the body
fluids (Trevisan et al., 2018). Titanium and its alloys are the materials that fulfill these criteria, so
they may be used as implants with certain checks that require some studies.
Khorasani, A. M., Goldberg, M., Doeven, E. H., & Littlefair, G. (2015). Titanium in Biomedical
Applications—Properties and Fabrication: A Review. Journal of Biomaterials and Tissue
Engineering, 5(8), 593–619. https://doi.org/10.1166/jbt.2015.1361

According to this journal article, Titanium and Titanium-based alloys have unique
properties such as resistance to corrosion and low density. The authors have explained Titanium
properties such as surface modification, metallurgy, biocompatibility, mechanical features and
resistance to corrosion. Also, this article gives an analysis of advantages and disadvantages of
different Titanium manufacturing processes (for biomedical applications) such as powder
metallurgy, machining, and superplastic forming among other methods explained in the article
(Khorasani et al., 2015). The journal article first scrutinizes the behaviour of titanium and
Titanium-based alloys using experiments to determine the major causes of failure, and then the
authors recommend improved biomedical production processes of the same.
Atapour, M., Pilchak, A. L., Frankel, G. S., & Williams, J. C. (2011). Corrosion behavior of β
titanium alloys for biomedical applications. Materials Science and Engineering: C, 31(5),
885–891. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.msec.2011.02.005
The particular journal article discusses the performance of Titanium-based alloys when
introduced in a corrosive environment. Also, partitioning of alloying elements has been
explained. Titanium alloy is a metal that consists of mixture titanium as the main element and
other elements (Atapour et al., 2011). This is done to achieve high toughness and tensile
strength. Generally, alloys have extreme temperature resistance, resistance to corrosion and yet
they are light in weight. The process of Titanium Alloying involves the allotropic transformation
of pure titanium to the cubic beta phase at very high temperatures.
Niinomi, M., Liu, Y., Nakai, M., Liu, H., & Li, H. (2016). Biomedical titanium alloys with
Young’s moduli close to that of cortical bone. Regenerative Biomaterials, 3(3), 173–185.
https://doi.org/10.1093/rb/rbw016

This journal article does an incredible work in describing the mechanical and biological
properties of Titanium alloys that have low Young’s modulus and those that have a changeable
Young’s modulus. Also, the Titanium alloys which have super-elastic and shape memory
properties have been addressed. The authors have also introduced surface modifications for
customizing the biological and corrosive performance of Titanium alloys (Niinomi et al., 2016).
Titanium allows with low or changeable Young’s modulus have the potential use in
preventing stress shielding which otherwise leads to poor bone remodeling and bone resorption.
Trevisan, F., Calignano, F., Aversa, A., Marchese, G., Lombardi, M., Biamino, S., … Manfredi,
D. (2018). Additive manufacturing of titanium alloys in the biomedical field: processes,
properties and applications. Journal of Applied Biomaterials & Functional Materials, 16(2),
57–67. https://doi.org/10.5301/jabfm.5000371
The article highlights the mechanical and biocompatibility properties of titanium for
medical devices and implants produced through additive manufacturing techniques. The journal
has specifically discussed electron beam melting, laser metal deposition and selective laser
melting. This article reviews the merits introduced by these technologies (Trevisan et al., 2018).
Titanium alloys are highly biocompatible with physiological processes of the human body. In
this regard, it is highly used in the manufacture of surgical implants and implements like hip
balls, heart valves, and hip sockets because it is not toxic to the body. Due to its less bone
degradation properties compared to other alloys, titanium alloys are currently being used to
replace teeth and other bone structures.
Balažic, M., & Kopa, J. (2010). Machining of Titanium Alloy Ti-6Al-4V for Biomedical
Applications. Journal of Mechanical Engineering, 5. Retrieved from: https://www.sv-

jme.eu/?ns_articles_pdf=/ns_articles/files/ojs3/1477/submission/1477-1-1975-1-2-
20171103.pdf&id=5926
The article discusses the properties of Titanium and its alloys that make it useful for use in
machines. Titanium alloys are also used extensively in the industry dealing with corrosive
chemicals because it exhibits an excellent degree of resistance to corrosion. Titanium Alloy is
used in the manufacture of reacting vessels, vats, pipes, heat exchangers, valves and filters
(Balažic & Kopa, 2010). In the paper manufacturing industries, the Titanium alloy is extensively
used in the manufacture of processing lines that are highly exposed to wet chlorine and sodium
hypochlorite that are highly corrosive. Many ship propeller shafts are also made from titanium
alloys because of its resistance to sea water’s saltiness. This is the reason it was widely used by
the Soviet Union in the manufacture of submarines.
Capellato, P., Riedel, N. A., Williams, J. D., Machado, J. P. B., Popat, K. C., & Claro, A. P. R.
A. (2013). Surface Modification on Ti-30Ta Alloy for Biomedical Application.
Engineering, 05(09), 707–713. https://doi.org/10.4236/eng.2013.59084
The article discusses the surface modification of Ti-30Ta alloy for use in the biomedical
industry. The ability of titanium alloys to resist corrosion to a greater extent makes it very useful
in industrial applications such as in petroleum and chemical manufacturing processes. This is
because when titanium alloys are exposed to oxygen, they immediately react with the specific
alloy to form a thin adherent oxide (Capellato et al., 2013). The nature of the oxide is very
important because it does not only adhere on titanium alloy to protect it but it also continuous,
stable and tight on the material. For example, Ti 6A1-4V exhibit high resistance even under

aqueous solutions which includes but not limited to seawater, chlorides, alkalis, propellants, and
oxidizing acids.
Niinomi, M., & Nakai, M. (2011). Titanium-Based Biomaterials for Preventing Stress Shielding
between Implant Devices and Bone. International Journal of Biomaterials, 2011, 1–10.
https://doi.org/10.1155/2011/836587
The journal discusses beta alloys, alpha alloys, and alpha-beta alloys. Alpha is formed by
the addition of neutral alloying materials as well as alpha stabilizers such as Sn and Aluminum &
Oxygen respectively. Beta alloys, on the other hand, contain enough beta stabilizers that enable
such alloys to retain their beta phase even after quenching. The strength of beta alloys can also
be increased by subjecting them to solution treatment and aging. The third category of titanium
alloys is beta-alpha alloys that contain both beta and alpha stabilizers thus withstand heat
treatments at various degrees (Niinomi & Nakai, 2011). It is important to note that the nature of
alloy and stabilizers used greatly influence the heat stability, toughness, tensile strength, and
other mechanical properties. Also, the article discusses the use of Titanium allows with low
Young’s modulus and those that have a changeable Young’s modulus.
Teixeira, M., Loable, C., Almeida, A., Florêncio, O., Fernandes, J. S., & Vilar, R. (2013).
Combinatorial laser-assisted development of novel Ti-Ta alloys for biomedical applications.
International Congress on Applications of Lasers & Electro-Optics, 34–42.
https://doi.org/10.2351/1.5062898
This conference paper discusses the major limitations of current Titanium alloys. There is
the presence of elements that are associated with neurological disorders and others that are toxic.
These elements result in stress shielding consequently causing bone resorption and implant

failures. The authors suggest the use of new designs alloying for biomedical applications. The
authors explain that alloying Titanium with β-phase stabilizers results in better biomedical
behaviour and bone characteristics that the current Titanium alloying methods that exist (Teixeira
et al., 2013). Titanium alloys are known to have high strengths, low densities and resistant to
corrosion. Titanium alloys are also known to have high strengths especially fatigue strength
compared to other alloys that are relatively light in weight such as Magnesium and Aluminum.
Sidambe, A. (2014). Biocompatibility of Advanced Manufactured Titanium Implants—A
Review. Materials, 7(12), 8168–8188. https://doi.org/10.3390/ma7128168
The article discusses the production of titanium alloys through various processes. The
Melting process involves a combination of extracted Titanium alloy with alloying elements
depending on the type of alloy to be produced. There are about five melting processes: induction
Skull melting, vacuum arc re-melting, plasma arc melting, Electroslag refines and Plasma Arc
melting Process (Sidambe, 2014). Melting process begins by blending together alloying elements
with sponge followed by hydraulic pressing necessary to produce excellent blocks known as a
briquette. Apart from the sponge, other titanium from scroll processes such as scrap or Revert
can also be used depending on the quality of the final Titanium Alloy required. It is very critical
to minimize exposure to hydrogen and oxygen during the heat treatment of titanium alloys.
Li, Y., Yang, C., Zhao, H., Qu, S., Li, X., & Li, Y. (2014). New Developments of Ti-Based
Alloys for Biomedical Applications. Materials, 7(3), 1709–1800.
https://doi.org/10.3390/ma7031709
The authors discuss how low modulus beta type Titanium allows, and porous Titanium
alloys are being increasingly used as alternatives to orthopedic implant materials. The society is

now moving towards the use of this material to enhance their daily life. The use of titanium alloy
in medical operations is another milestone in modern society since it has improved surgical
operations to a great extent. However, despite the high availability of titanium naturally, the
process of exploration and manufacture of titanium alloys is expensive thus hinders its full
exploitation. This has resulted in high costs of titanium since the demand has shot very high due
to its benefits.

References
Atapour, M., Pilchak, A. L., Frankel, G. S., & Williams, J. C. (2011). Corrosion behavior of β
titanium alloys for biomedical applications. Materials Science and Engineering: C, 31(5),
885–891. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.msec.2011.02.005
Balažic, M., & Kopa, J. (2010). Machining of Titanium Alloy Ti-6Al-4V for Biomedical
Applications. Journal of Mechanical Engineering, 5.
Capellato, P., Riedel, N. A., Williams, J. D., Machado, J. P. B., Popat, K. C., & Claro, A. P. R.
A. (2013). Surface Modification on Ti-30Ta Alloy for Biomedical Application.
Engineering, 05(09), 707–713. https://doi.org/10.4236/eng.2013.59084
Khorasani, A. M., Goldberg, M., Doeven, E. H., & Littlefair, G. (2015). Titanium in Biomedical
Applications—Properties and Fabrication: A Review. Journal of Biomaterials and Tissue
Engineering, 5(8), 593–619. https://doi.org/10.1166/jbt.2015.1361
Li, Y., Yang, C., Zhao, H., Qu, S., Li, X., & Li, Y. (2014). New Developments of Ti-Based
Alloys for Biomedical Applications. Materials, 7(3), 1709–1800.
https://doi.org/10.3390/ma7031709
Niinomi, M., & Nakai, M. (2011). Titanium-Based Biomaterials for Preventing Stress Shielding
between Implant Devices and Bone. International Journal of Biomaterials, 2011, 1–10.
https://doi.org/10.1155/2011/836587
Niinomi, Mitsuo, Liu, Y., Nakai, M., Liu, H., & Li, H. (2016). Biomedical titanium alloys with
Young’s moduli close to that of cortical bone. Regenerative Biomaterials, 3(3), 173–185.
https://doi.org/10.1093/rb/rbw016
Sidambe, A. (2014). Biocompatibility of Advanced Manufactured Titanium Implants—A
Review. Materials, 7(12), 8168–8188. https://doi.org/10.3390/ma7128168

Teixeira, M., Loable, C., Almeida, A., Florêncio, O., Fernandes, J. S., & Vilar, R. (2013).
Combinatorial laser-assisted development of novel Ti-Ta alloys for biomedical applications.
International Congress on Applications of Lasers & Electro-Optics, 34–42.
https://doi.org/10.2351/1.5062898
Trevisan, F., Calignano, F., Aversa, A., Marchese, G., Lombardi, M., Biamino, S., … Manfredi,
D. (2018). Additive manufacturing of titanium alloys in the biomedical field: processes,
properties and applications. Journal of Applied Biomaterials & Functional Materials, 16(2),
57–67. https://doi.org/10.5301/jabfm.5000371