Acta Metallurgica Sinica (English Letters) ›› 2022, Vol. 35 ›› Issue (9): 1465-1476.DOI: 10.1007/s40195-022-01387-6

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Microstructure and Mechanical Properties of Ti-Ta Composites Prepared Through Cold Spray Additive Manufacturing

Junrong Tang1,2, Naeem ul Haq Tariq3, Zhipo Zhao1, Mingxiao Guo1,2, Hanhui Liu1,2, Yupeng Ren1,2, Xinyu Cui1, Yanfang Shen1, Jiqiang Wang1(), Tianying Xiong1()   

  1. 1Shi-changxu Innovation Center for Advanced Materials, Institute of Metal Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenyang, 110016, China
    2School of Materials Science and Engineering, University of Science and Technology of China, Shenyang, 110016, China
    3Department of Metallurgy and Materials Engineering, Pakistan Institute of Engineering and Applied Sciences, Nilore, Islamabad, Pakistan
  • Received:2021-11-05 Revised:2021-12-19 Accepted:2021-12-21 Online:2022-09-10 Published:2022-02-16
  • Contact: Jiqiang Wang,Tianying Xiong
  • About author:Jiqiang Wang, jqwang11s@imr.ac.cn; Tianying Xiong, tyxiong@imr.ac.cn

Abstract:

In this study, an innovative approach was used to fabricate Ti-Ta composite biomaterials through cold spray additive manufacturing followed by a diffusion treatment. The microstructure and mechanical properties of the composites were investigated in detail using field emission scanning electron microscopy, electron backscatter diffraction, 3D X-ray computed tomography, tensile test, nanohardness test and resonance vibration test. The obtained results indicated that the prepared composites have inhomogeneity in their microstructure and composition. A unique microstructure, composed of Ti-rich, Ta-rich and diffusion regions, was evolved in the composites due to incomplete diffusion between Ti and Ta splats. Further, Kirkendall pores were formed in the composites due to uneven diffusion of the two phases (of Ti and Ta) during high-temperature heat treatment. The prepared composites simultaneously showed low elastic modulus and high tensile strength which is required for a good biomaterial. Low elastic modulus was associated with the residual pores and the alloying effect of Ta in Ti, while high tensile strength was related to the solid solution strengthening effects. The obtained results indicated that the prepared Ti-Ta composites have a great potential to become a new candidate for biomedical applications.

Key words: Ti-Ta composites, Cold spray additive manufacturing (CSAM), Biomaterials, Mechanical properties, X-ray computed tomography (XCT)