Biofunctionalization of Ti-15Zr-BASED alloys with molybdenum addition and some surface modifications

Abstract

Ti and your alloys are commonly used in the biomedical area, mainly as cardiovascular, orthopedical and dental implants. Its applications occur due your favorable properties, as high mechanical strength and density ratio, relative low Young's modulus, excellent corrosion and wear resistance, further good biocompatibility. The development of new metallic biomaterials has searched for Ti alloys with non-toxic elements, as Zr, Nb, Ta and Mo. Furthermore, there is a special interesting in ²-type Ti alloys (bcc structure) which present lower Young's modulus that could avoid stress shielding effect and implant failure, resulting in a better mechanical compatibility. Zr shows similar chemical properties with the Ti, can improve the mechanical strength and biocompatibility. Mo is a strong ²-stabilizer, can decrease the Young's modulus and improve the corrosion resistance. Currently, the development of new implants has focused in biofunctional and bioactive materials, which presented chemical, physical and mechanical properties proper to the body, in addition to having the ability of healing damaged tissues and cells. This work aims to analyze the electrochemical, physical, mechanical and cytotoxic behavior of the Ti-15Zr-based alloy with the addition of molybdenum, with focus in improve the biofunctionality in terms of composition and microstructure. The influence of different routes of surface modification (like anodization, immobilization of bioactive ions and hydroxyapatite coating) will be evaluated for improve the superficial bioactivity and biofunctionality. (AU)