Due to societal progress and technological advancements, the market share of biomaterials derived from biological sources has been consistently increasing and is projected to continue growing rapidly. In the field of medical biomaterials, there has been a notable rise in the use of hard tissue replacement materials, including artificial teeth, artificial joints, and artificial bones.
Titanium and titanium alloys have found wide-ranging applications in industries such as nuclear, chemical and petrochemical, aerospace, sports equipment, dental, and medical repairs. In the realm of structural biomedical applications, titanium alloys have been regarded as the optimal materials for replacing or repairing failed hard tissues.
While pure titanium exhibits good corrosion resistance, its biocompatibility and overall mechanical properties are limited. It has relatively low strength and high production costs. The emergence of titanium alloys has provided a viable alternative. Titanium alloys outperform stainless steel, industrial pure (CP) Nb, Cr-Co alloy, and cp-Ta materials in medical applications. This is primarily due to the formation of an oxidation layer on the surface of titanium alloys, resulting in excellent corrosion resistance and a low elastic modulus.
Medical titanium alloys, characterized by their non-toxicity, lightweight nature, and high specific strength, not only demonstrate exceptional biocompatibility and corrosion resistance, making them suitable for implantation but also represent ideal materials for biomedical engineering. Titanium reserves in the Earth's crust are abundant, presenting further development potential.
Currently, pure titanium (TA1, TA2; TA1 refers to titanium with a purity greater than 99.6%, while pure titanium with a purity less than 99.6% is referred to as TA2) and Ti-6Al-4V, Ti-5Al-2.5Fe, Ti-6Al-7Nb alloys are widely utilized in the medical field. However, the focus of research has shifted towards new β titanium alloys, which exhibit superior biocompatibility and mechanical compatibility. These alloys hold significant promise for medical implant applications and represent the most prospective technological advancements in the field of medical titanium alloys.
Looking ahead, the production technology of titanium alloys will continue to develop towards achieving low modulus and high strength. From a developmental standpoint, β titanium alloys are poised to lead the future of the medical titanium alloy market, with a focus on improved biocompatibility and mechanical properties.
Chinese researchers have recently synthesized dental Ti-Zr alloy, drawing inspiration from the mechanical properties of commonly used Co-Cr alloys and type IV alloys in clinical settings. This alloy shows the potential to become a new titanium alloy for dental repairs. Additionally, China has made advancements in the design of TAMZ (Ti-Al-Mo-Zr) medical alloy, which exhibits better compatibility, and affordability, and is suitable for dental braces and clasps.
Undoubtedly, with the continued progress of science and technology, Chinese research on titanium alloys will delve deeper and become more comprehensive.
Contact：
If you have any questions, please feel free to contact us. Working hours: 8:30 a.m. to 17:30 p.m.
E-mail: zhangjixia@bjygti.com
