The investigation of the biocompatibility properties of TiNb alloy produced by powder metallurgy

In this study, porous TiNb alloys were produced by conventional sintering from powder metallurgy (TM) methods. Optical images of produced samples, SEM-EDX image analysis, XRD pattern analysis, DSC analysis, compression strengths and their biocompatibility in vivo environment were examined. For the homogeneity of powder mixtures during production, the powders were mixed in a rotating vessel for 12 hours and after that the powder mixtures were briquetted at different pressures. The briquetted green samples were then sintered in an frurnace protected by argon gas for 2 hours at different temperatures. Thus, porous samples with porosity from 4.4% to 11.3% were produced. It was seen that the porosity decreased with increasing sintering temperature and briquetting pressure. The SEM-EDX analyzes of the produced samples showed that the α (hcp) and β (bcc) phases formed, and also α + β Widmanstätten phase structure was seen with increasing sintering temperature and cold pressing pressure presence. In XRD analyzes, it was realized that extra α" martensite phase also formed together the α and β phases. DSC curves showed that phase transformation temperatures decreased with increasing Nb content. As a result, it was understood that the compressive strengthes of the produced specimens are higher than that of bone, and also the new bone growth around the specimens examined in the in vivo environment was good and there was no tissue destruction.