Abstract Ti-6Al-4V and TiAl-based alloys are widely used for fabricating the implantable orthopedic devices and automotive components, respectively. Ti6Si2B-based alloys are attractive for use in orthopedic components because their higher hardness, superior biocompatibility and corrosion resistance in simulated body fluid than Ti and Ti-6Al-4V alloy. Limited information on Ti6Si2B stability in Co-dopped 67Ti-22Si-11B alloys are available in literature. This work presents the effect of cobalt doping and milling time on microstructure and Vickers microhardness of 65Ti-2Co-22Si-11B and 61Ti-6Co-22Si-11B (at-%) alloys produced by spark plasma sintering at 1100 oC for 12min using 20MPa. Samples were characterized by X ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, energy dispersive spectrometry, laser particle size analysis, and Vickers microhardness. Sintered alloys with 2 and 6at-%Co indicated the major presence of Ti6Si2B and Ti5Si3 dissolving up to 2.7 and 4.2 at-%Co, respectively, besides the minor precipitates of CoTi2 (4.4-16.7at-%Si) and CoTi (4.6-4.7at-%Si). Vickers microhardness of the sintered 65Ti-2Co-22Si-11B and 61Ti-6Co-22Si-11B alloys were in the range of 950-1050 and 1050-1150HV, respectively. Although the increase from 2 to 6at-%Co has reduced the Ti6Si2B stability, the Co-rich phases increased their hardness values up to 1150HV (11.3GPa), which are superior than those of commercial Ti alloys used for joint orthopedic components and automotive rotating parts.

The objective of this work was the conformation of ribbons from Sn3Zn alloy and Sn pure, using the melt-spinning fast cooling technique, in order to investigate the applicability as biomaterial. The ribbons were coated with 1% poly-caprolactone (PCL) and subsequent incorporation of silver nanoparticles (NPAg). In the uncoated ribbon was observing a surface roughness due of agglomerate caused by rapid solidification. In the ribbon coated with PCL and NPAg incorporation, it was observed that these compounds adhered to the ribbon. X-ray diffraction analysis showed no ribbons amorphization. The analysis by differential scanning calorimetry, indicated that the Sn3Zn ribbon had a lower melting temperature (198.1°C) than the Sn ribbon (228.7°C). The microhardness of Sn3Zn ribbon was 13.38 HV and Sn ribbon was 11.00 HV, both for the face without contact with the cooling wheel. In the bioactivity assays, performed in simulated body fluid medium, all samples showed apatites formation after four weeks of testing.

Titanium is used in orthopedic and orthodontic implants because it has good corrosion resistance and excellent biocompatibility. Thus, studies seek to obtain a coating to improve the adhesion between the bone and the implant, by modifying the metal’s surface. The objective of this work was to biomimetically coat C.P. Ti with hydroxyapatite doped with silver nitrate, a component with antimicrobial properties, coating the metallic-ceramic composite with a polycaprolactone polymer film, which is known by generate improved implant-tissue interaction, and reducing postoperative complications from bacterial infections. The characterization of the material demonstrated the existence of the coating overall surface of the metallic substrate. The results obtained from the bacterial culture tests with Staphylococcus aureus showed that nitrate was effective in reducing the amount of live bacteria present in the supernatant, as well as those adhered to the surface of the material. In addition, the polymeric coating did not prevent the release of the bactericidal agent, not interfering in the effect there.

Refractory alloys with silicides and borides have been used in high temperature applications because their elevated melting point, good oxidation resistance and high strength-to-weight ratio. The present study approaches the preparation of Ti-7.5Si-22.5B (at.-%) alloys through high-energy ball milling and sintering. The powders and compacts obtained in these processes were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), density measurements, chemical analyses and Vickers hardness. It was verified that silicon and boron powders are dissolved in the titanium during milling with an iron contamination up to 6.0 at.-%. Furthermore, the use of short milling times and alcohol during the final stages of milling increases the powder yield. Such increasing was obtained even with a high rotary speed (300 rpm), which generally creates higher temperatures and consequently more sticking. After sintering of the as-milled powders, it was indentified mainly the Ti+Ti6Si2B+TiB+Ti5Si3 phases in the Ti-7.5Si-22.5B sintered alloys, which presented hardness values up to 800 HV. The materials produced by the present work can be employed in coating research as sputtering targets.

A partial isothermal section (Ti-TiSi2-TiB2 region) of the ternary Ti-Si-B system at 1250 ° C was determined from heat-treated alloys prepared via arc melting. Microstructural characterization has been carried out through scanning electron microscopy (SEM), x-ray diffraction (xRD) and wavelength dispersive spectrometry (WDS). The results have shown the stability of the near stoichiometric Ti6Si2B phase and a negligible solubility of boron in the Ti-silicides as well as of Si in the Ti-borides. The following three-phase equilibria have been observed in the Ti- TiSi2-TiB2 region: Ti ss+TiB+Ti6Si2B, Ti ss+Ti6Si2B+Ti5Si3, Ti5Si3+Ti6Si2B+TiB, Ti5Si3+TiB+Ti3B4, Ti5Si3+Ti3B4+TiB2, Ti5Si3+TiB2+Ti5Si4, Ti5Si4+TiB2+TiSi and TiSi+TiB2+TiSi2.

Recently, a new ternary phase was discovered in the Ti-Si-B system, located near the Ti6Si2B composition. The present study concerns the preparation of titanium alloys that contain such phase mixed with α-titanium and other intermetallic phases. High-purity powders were initially processed in a planetary ball-mill under argon atmosphere with Ti-18Si-6B and Ti-7.5Si-22.5B at. (%) initial compositions. Variation of parameters such as rotary speed, time, and ball diameters were adopted. The as-milled powders were pressureless sintered and hot pressed. Both the as-milled and sintered materials were characterized by X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy and energy-dispersive spectrometry. Sintered samples have presented equilibrium structures formed mainly by the α-Ti+Ti6Si2B+Ti5Si3+TiB phases. Silicon and boron peaks disappear throughout the milling processes, as observed in the powder diffraction data. Furthermore, an iron contamination of up to 10 at. (%) is measured by X-ray spectroscopy analysis on some regions of the sintered samples. Density, hardness and tribological results for these two compositions are also presented here.