Is titanium-zirconium alloy a better alternative to pure titanium for oral implant? Composition, mechanical properties, and microstructure analysis

• Main Authors: Ajay Sharma (Author), John N. Waddell (Author), Kai C. Li (Author), Lavanya A Sharma (Author), David J. Prior (Author), Warwick J. Duncan (Author)
• Format: Book
• Published: Elsevier, 2021-11-01T00:00:00Z.
• Subjects: article
• Online Access: Connect to this object online.

Summary

Introduction: Titanium (Ti) is widely accepted as a biomaterial for orthopaedic and dental implants, primarily due to its capacity to integrate directly into the bone and its superior corrosion resistance. It has been suggested that titanium-zirconium alloy (TiZr), with 13-17% of zirconium, has better mechanical properties than pure Ti, but there are very few published studies assessing the suitability of TiZr for high-load- bearing implants. This study aimed to compare the mechanical properties and microstructures of TiZr and commercially pure titanium (Ti). Methodology: Pure Ti and TiZr alloy discs were prepared and subjected to characterisation by nanoindentation, electron dispersive spectroscopy (EDS), X-ray diffraction (XRD), and electron backscatter diffraction (EBSD). Results: The TiZr alloy was found to have significantly lower elastic modulus value (p < 0.0001) and greater hardness than Ti (p < 0.05). The EDS results confirmed the presence of Zr (13-17%) in the TiZr alloy, with XRD and EBSD images showing microstructure with the alpha phase similar to commercially available Ti. Conclusion: The lower elastic modulus, higher hardness, presence of alpha phase, and the finer grain size of the TiZr alloy make it more suitable for high-load-bearing implants compared to commercially available Ti and is likely to encourage a positive biological response.

Item Description

1013-9052
10.1016/j.sdentj.2020.08.009