HIGH STRENGTH AND LOW MODULUS ALLOY AND ARTICLE COMPRISING THE SAME

Abstract

A high strength and low modulus alloy is disclosed, and comprises at least five principal elements and at least one additive element. The principal elements are Ti, Zr, Nb, Mo, and Sn, and the additive element(s) are V, W, Cr, and/or Hf. Particularly, a summation of numeric values of Ti and Zr in atomic percent is less than or equal to 85, and the additive elements have a total numeric value in atomic percent less than or equal to 4. Experimental data reveal that, samples of the high strength and low modulus alloy all have properties of yield strength greater than 600 MPa and Young's modulus less than 90 GPa. As a result, experimental data have proved that the high strength and low modulus alloy has a significant potential for applications in the manufacture of various industrial components and/or devices, medical devices, and surgical implants.

Claims

1. A high strength and low modulus alloy, having a plurality of properties that comprise yield strength greater than 600 MPa and Young's modulus less than 90 GPa, and having an elemental composition of Ti.sub.rZr.sub.sNb.sub.tMo.sub.xSn.sub.yM.sub.a; wherein M represents at least one additive element selected from a group consisting of V, W, Cr, and Hf; wherein r, s, t, x, y, and a are numeric values of Ti, Zr, Nb, Mo, Sn, and M in atomic percent, respectively; and wherein r, s, t, x, y, and a satisfy 15≤r≤50, 26≤s≤50, 3≤t≤20, x≤3.5, y≤12, a≤4, and (r+s)≤85.

2. The high strength and low modulus alloy of claim 1, wherein a metal element Ta is added into the elemental composition, thereby making the elemental composition become Ti.sub.rZr.sub.sNb.sub.tMo.sub.xSn.sub.yTa.sub.zM.sub.a; wherein z satisfies z≤5.

3. The high strength and low modulus alloy of claim 1, being produced by using a manufacturing method selected from a group consisting of: vacuum arc melting process, electric resistance wire heating process, electric induction heating process, rapid solidification process, mechanical alloying process, and powder metallurgical process.

4. The high strength and low modulus alloy of claim 1, wherein the high strength and low modulus alloy is processed to be an article selected from a group consisting of powder article, wire article, welding rod, flux cored wire, plate article, and bulk article.

5. An article, being made of a high strength and low modulus alloy material having an elemental composition of Ti.sub.rZr.sub.sNb.sub.tMo.sub.xSn.sub.yM.sub.a; wherein M represents at least one additive element selected from a group consisting of V, W, Cr, and Hf; wherein r, s, t, x, y, and a are numeric values of Ti, Zr, Nb, Mo, Sn, and M in atomic percent, respectively; wherein the article is selected from a group consisting of surgical implant, medical device and industrially-producible product.

6. A high strength and low modulus alloy, having a plurality of properties that comprise yield strength greater than 600 MPa and Young's modulus less than 90 GPa, and having an elemental composition of Ti.sub.rZr.sub.sNb.sub.tMo.sub.xSn.sub.yM.sub.aN.sub.b; wherein M represents at least one first additive element selected from a group consisting of V, W, Cr, and Hf; wherein N represents at least one second additive element selected from a group consisting of Cu, Al, Ni, Au, Ag, Fe, Co, Mn, Zn, Pb, Ge, P, Mg, Ce, Y, La, Sb, C, Si, B, and O; wherein r, s, t, x, y, a, and b are numeric values of Ti, Zr, Nb, Mo, Sn, M, and N in atomic percent, respectively; and wherein r, s, t, x, y, a, and b satisfy 15≤r≤50, 26≤s≤50, 3≤t≤20, x≤3.5, y≤12, a≤4, b≤5, and (r+s)≤85.

7. The high strength and low modulus alloy of claim 6, wherein a metal element Ta is added into the elemental composition, thereby making the elemental composition become Ti.sub.rZr.sub.sNb.sub.tMo.sub.xSn.sub.yTa.sub.zM.sub.aN.sub.b; wherein z satisfies z≤5.

8. The high strength and low modulus alloy of claim 6, being produced by using a manufacturing method selected from a group consisting of: vacuum arc melting process, electric resistance wire heating process, electric induction heating process, rapid solidification process, mechanical alloying process, and powder metallurgical process.

9. The high strength and low modulus alloy of claim 6, wherein the high strength and low modulus alloy is processed to be an article selected from a group consisting of powder article, wire article, welding rod, flux cored wire, plate article, and bulk article.

10. An article, being made of a high strength and low modulus alloy material having an elemental composition of Ti.sub.rZr.sub.sNb.sub.tMo.sub.xSn.sub.yM.sub.aN.sub.b; wherein M represents at least one first additive element selected from a group consisting of V, W, Cr, and Hf; wherein N represents at least one second additive element selected from a group consisting of Cu, Al, Ni, Au, Ag, Fe, Co, Mn, Zn, Pb, Ge, P, Mg, Ce, Y, La, Sb, C, Si, B, and O; wherein r, s, t, x, y, a, and b are numeric values of Ti, Zr, Nb, Mo, Sn, M, and N in atomic percent, respectively; wherein r, s, t, x, y, a, and b satisfy 15≤r≤50, 26≤s≤50, 3≤t≤20, x≤3.5, y≤12, a≤4, b≤5, and (r+s)≤85; wherein the article is selected from a group consisting of surgical implant, medical device and industrially-producible product.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0027] To more clearly describe a high strength and low modulus alloy and an article comprising the same, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the attached drawings hereinafter.

First Embodiment

[0028] In the first embodiment, the high strength and low modulus alloy is designed to have an elemental composition of Ti.sub.rZr.sub.sNb.sub.tMo.sub.xSn.sub.yM.sub.a, so as to exhibit a plurality of specific properties that comprises yield strength greater than 600 MPa and Young's modulus less than 90 GPa. As described in more detail below, M represents at least one additive element selected from a group consisting of V, W, Cr, and Hf. Moreover, the forgoing r, s, t, x, y, and a are numeric values of Ti, Zr, Nb, Mo, Sn, and M in atomic percent, respectively. Particularly, r, s, t, x, y, and a satisfy 15≤r≤50, 26≤s≤50, 3≤t≤20, x≤3.5, y≤12, a≤4, and (r+s)≤85. For example, the high strength and low modulus alloy is designed to comprise: 48 at % Ti, 28 at % Zr, 15 at % Nb, 3 at % Mo, and 6 at % Sn. In such case, the high strength and low modulus alloy has an elemental composition of Ti.sub.48Zr.sub.28Nb.sub.15Mo.sub.3Sn.sub.6. That is, r=48, s=28, t=15, x=3, y=6, and a=0.

Second Embodiment

[0029] In the second embodiment, the high strength and low modulus alloy is designed to have an elemental composition of Ti.sub.rZr.sub.sNb.sub.tMo.sub.xSn.sub.yTa.sub.zM.sub.a, so as to exhibit a plurality of specific properties that comprises yield strength greater than 600 MPa and Young's modulus less than 90 GPa. As described in more detail below, M represents at least one additive element selected from a group consisting of V, W, Cr, and Hf. Moreover, the forgoing r, s, t, x, y, z, and a are numeric values of Ti, Zr, Nb, Mo, Sn, Ta, and M in atomic percent, respectively. Particularly, r, s, t, x, y, z, and a satisfy 15≤r≤50, 26≤s≤50, 3≤t≤20, x≤3.5, y≤12, z≤5, a≤4, and (r+s)≤85. For example, the high strength and low modulus alloy is designed to comprise: 48 at % Ti, 28 at % Zr, 12.5 at % Nb, 3.5 at % Mo, 2 at % Sn, 3 at % Ta, 2 at % Cr, and 1 at % W. In such case, the high strength and low modulus alloy has an elemental composition of Ti.sub.48Zr.sub.28Nb.sub.12.5Mo.sub.3.5Sn.sub.2Ta.sub.3Cr.sub.2W.sub.1. That is, r=48, s=28, t=12.5, x=3.5, y=2, z=3, and a=2+1=3.

Third Embodiment

[0030] In the third embodiment, the high strength and low modulus alloy is designed to have an elemental composition of Ti.sub.rZr.sub.sNb.sub.tMo.sub.xSn.sub.yM.sub.aN.sub.b, so as to exhibit a plurality of specific properties that comprises yield strength greater than 600 MPa and Young's modulus less than 90 GPa. As described in more detail below, M represents at least one additive element selected from a group consisting of V, W, Cr, and Hf, and N represents at least one second additive element selected from a group consisting of Cu, Al, Ni, Au, Ag, Fe, Co, Mn, Zn, Pb, Ge, P, Mg, Ce, Y, La, Sb, C, Si, B, and O. Moreover, the forgoing r, s, t, x, y, a, and b are numeric values of Ti, Zr, Nb, Mo, Sn, M, and N in atomic percent, respectively. Particularly, r, s, t, x, y, a, and b satisfy 15≤r≤50, 26≤s≤50, 3≤t≤20, x≤3.5, y≤12, a≤4, b≤5, and (r+s)≤85. For example, the high strength and low modulus alloy is designed to comprise: 48 at % Ti, 26 at % Zr, 7 at % Nb, 3 at % Mo, 12 at % Sn, 2 at % V, and 2 at % Cu. In such case, the high strength and low modulus alloy has an elemental composition of Ti.sub.48Zr.sub.26Nb.sub.7Mo.sub.3Sn.sub.12V.sub.2Cu.sub.2. That is, r=48, s=26, t=7, x=3, y=12, a=2, and b=2.

Fourth Embodiment

[0031] In the fourth embodiment, the high strength and low modulus alloy is designed to have an elemental composition of Ti.sub.rZr.sub.sNb.sub.tMo.sub.xSn.sub.yTa.sub.zM.sub.aN.sub.b, so as to exhibit a plurality of specific properties that comprises yield strength greater than 600 MPa and Young's modulus less than 90 GPa. As described in more detail below, M represents at least one additive element selected from a group consisting of V, W, Cr, and Hf, and N represents at least one second additive element selected from a group consisting of Cu, Al, Ni, Au, Ag, Fe, Co, Mn, Zn, Pb, Ge, P, Mg, Ce, Y, La, Sb, C, Si, B, and O. Moreover, the forgoing r, s, t, x, y, z, a, and b are numeric values of Ti, Zr, Nb, Mo, Sn, Ta, M, and N in atomic percent, respectively. Particularly, r, s, t, x, y, z, a, and b satisfy 15≤r≤50, 26≤s≤50, 3≤t≤20, x≤3.5, y≤12, z≤5, a≤4, b≤5, and (r+s)≤85. For example, the high strength and low modulus alloy is designed to comprise: 48 at % Ti, 29 at % Zr, 3 at % Nb, 3 at % Mo, 9 at % Sn, 4 at % Ta, 1 at % V, 2 at % Co, and 1 at % Si. In such case, the high strength and low modulus alloy has an elemental composition of Ti.sub.48Zr.sub.29Nb.sub.3Mo.sub.3Sn.sub.9Ta.sub.4V.sub.1Co.sub.2Si.sub.1. That is, r=48, s=29, t=3, x=3, y=9, z=4, a=1, and b=2+1=3.

[0032] It is worth mentioning that, the high strength and low modulus alloy according to the present invention can be produced by using a manufacturing method selected from a group consisting of: vacuum arc melting process, electric resistance wire heating process, electric induction heating process, rapid solidification process, mechanical alloying process, and powder metallurgical process. Moreover, the high strength and low modulus alloy can be processed to be an article selected from a group consisting of powder article, wire article, welding rod, flux cored wire, plate article, and bulk article.

[0033] Therefore, engineers skilled in development and manufacture of alloys are certainly able to fabricate a specific article comprising the high strength and low modulus alloy according to the present invention, such as a surgical implant, a medical device or an industrially-producible product. In practicable embodiments, the surgical implant can be an artificial hip joint, an artificial knee joint, a joint button, a bone plate, a bone screw, a spicule, a dental crown, an abutment post for supporting the dental crown, a bridge, a partial denture, etc. On the other hand, the medical device can be a scalpel's blade, a hemostatic forceps, a surgical scissor, an electric bone drill, a tweezer, a blood vessel suture needle, a sternum suture thread, and so on. Moreover, the industrially-producible product is like a spring, a coil, a wire, a clamp, a fastener, a blade, a valve, a elastic sheet, a spectacle frame, sports equipment, and so forth. As explained in more detail below, processing method for achieving the fabrication of the specific article can be casting method, electric-arc welding method, thermal spraying method, thermal sintering method, laser welding method, plasma-arc welding method, 3D additive manufacturing method, mechanical process method, or chemical process method.

[0034] It is worth mentioning that, inventors of the present invention have completed experiments in order to prove that the high strength and low modulus alloy of the present invention can indeed be made.

First Experiment

[0035] In the first experiment, samples of the high strength and low modulus alloy according to the present invention are fabricated by using vacuum arc melting method. Following Table (1) lists each sample's elemental composition. Moreover, the samples of the high strength and low modulus alloy are all treated with a tensile test, and related measurement data are recorded in the following Table (1).

TABLE-US-00001 TABLE 1 Yield Young's strength modulus samples Elemental composition (MPa) (GPa) No. 1 Ti.sub.48Zr.sub.28Nb.sub.15Mo.sub.3Sn.sub.6 915 79.7 No. 2 Ti.sub.48Zr.sub.28Nb.sub.12.5Mo.sub.3.5Sn.sub.2Ta.sub.3Cr.sub.2W.sub.1 973 85.3 No. 3 Ti.sub.48Zr.sub.26Nb.sub.7Mo.sub.3Sn.sub.12V.sub.2Cu.sub.2 988 89.5 No. 4 Ti.sub.48Zr.sub.29Nb.sub.3Mo.sub.3Sn.sub.9Ta.sub.4V.sub.1Co.sub.2Si.sub.1 994 89.8 No. 5 Ti.sub.48Zr.sub.26Nb.sub.12Mo.sub.2Sn.sub.2Ta.sub.5Hf.sub.2Ni.sub.2Al.sub.1 995 83.2 No. 6 Ti.sub.40Zr.sub.40Nb.sub.5Mo.sub.3.5Sn.sub.6.5Ta.sub.2Cr.sub.3 1056 82.5 No. 7 Ti.sub.40Zr.sub.35Nb.sub.8Mo.sub.3.5Sn.sub.6.5V.sub.4Fe.sub.3 1098 85.6 No. 8 Ti.sub.40Zr.sub.33Nb.sub.14Mo.sub.3Sn.sub.3W.sub.4Zn.sub.3 1103 87.3 No. 9 Ti.sub.40Zr.sub.38Nb.sub.11Mo.sub.3Sn.sub.3Cr.sub.2Mn.sub.2O.sub.1 1122 83.1 No. 10 Ti.sub.40Zr.sub.31Nb.sub.13Mo.sub.3Sn.sub.8V.sub.2Ge.sub.2P.sub.1 1156 89.1

[0036] From the forgoing Table (1), it is easy to find that, the 10 samples have included the first embodiment, the second embodiment, the third embodiment, and the fourth embodiment of the high strength and low modulus alloy. The most important thing is that the 10 samples of the high strength and low modulus alloy all include following characteristics: yield strength greater than 600 MPa and Young's modulus less than 90 GPa.

Second Experiment

[0037] In the second experiment, samples of the high strength and low modulus alloy according to the present invention are also fabricated by using vacuum arc melting method. Following Tables (2) and (3) list each sample's elemental composition. Moreover, the samples of the high strength and low modulus alloy are all treated with a tensile test, and related measurement data are recorded in the following Tables (2) and (3).

TABLE-US-00002 TABLE 2 Yield Young's strength modulus samples Elemental composition (MPa) (GPa) No. 11 Ti.sub.35Zr.sub.40Nb.sub.15Mo.sub.2Sn.sub.8 1049 80.3 No. 12 Ti.sub.35Zr.sub.31Nb.sub.16Mo.sub.3Sn.sub.8Ta.sub.3Cr.sub.4 1083 86.7 No. 13 Ti.sub.35Zr.sub.37Nb.sub.17Mo.sub.3.5Sn.sub.0.5Ta.sub.1V.sub.4Y.sub.2 993 82.3 No. 14 Ti.sub.35Zr.sub.36Nb.sub.17Mo.sub.3Sn.sub.4Ta.sub.1Hf.sub.1Au.sub.2C.sub.1 1105 89.9 No. 15 Ti.sub.35Zr.sub.35Nb.sub.18Mo.sub.2Sn.sub.5Ta.sub.1W.sub.1Mg.sub.2B.sub.1 1139 89.8 No. 16 Ti.sub.32Zr.sub.33Nb.sub.20Mo.sub.0.5Sn.sub.7.5Ta.sub.3V.sub.4 1021 79.2 No. 17 Ti.sub.32Zr.sub.37Nb.sub.20Mo.sub.2Sn.sub.2Ta.sub.3Cr.sub.4 1047 85.4 No. 18 Ti.sub.32Zr.sub.36Nb.sub.17Mo.sub.3Sn.sub.7Ta.sub.1Cr.sub.2W.sub.2 1083 86.9 No. 19 Ti.sub.32Zr.sub.33Nb.sub.17Mo.sub.3Sn.sub.9Ta.sub.2V.sub.1La.sub.3 1189 89.9 No. 20 Ti.sub.32Zr.sub.35Nb.sub.15Mo.sub.3.5Sn.sub.8.5Ta.sub.1W.sub.2Ag.sub.2Pb.sub.1 1096 87.1

TABLE-US-00003 TABLE 3 Yield Young's strength modulus samples Elemental composition (MPa) (GPa) No. 21 Ti.sub.27Zr.sub.29Nb.sub.20Mo.sub.3.5Sn.sub.10.5Ta.sub.3Cr.sub.4Cu.sub.2Sb.sub.1 1159 89.7 No. 22 Ti.sub.27Zr.sub.37Nb.sub.18Mo.sub.3Sn.sub.6Ta.sub.2V.sub.4Ni.sub.2Ce.sub.1 1119 88.5 No. 23 Ti.sub.27Zr.sub.37Nb.sub.16Mo.sub.1Sn.sub.12Ta.sub.2Cr.sub.1W.sub.1Al.sub.3 1138 89.3 No. 24 Ti.sub.27Zr.sub.48Nb.sub.12Mo.sub.3Sn.sub.3Ta.sub.1Cr.sub.3Co.sub.2O.sub.1 1219 89.3 No. 25 Ti.sub.27Zr.sub.44Nb.sub.15Mo.sub.2Sn.sub.5Ta.sub.1V.sub.3Fe.sub.1Mn.sub.1C.sub.1 1183 85.9 No. 26 Ti.sub.20Zr.sub.40Nb.sub.18Mo.sub.3.5Sn.sub.9.5Ta.sub.5V.sub.1Ge.sub.3 1149 89.6 No. 27 Ti.sub.20Zr.sub.48Nb.sub.13Mo.sub.3Sn.sub.7Ta.sub.5V.sub.1Zn.sub.2B.sub.1 1208 89.8 No. 28 Ti.sub.20Zr.sub.50Nb.sub.17Mo.sub.3Sn.sub.3Ta.sub.1Cr.sub.3W.sub.1Y.sub.2 1143 89.3 No. 29 Ti.sub.20Zr.sub.50Nb.sub.20Mo.sub.3Sn.sub.1Ta.sub.2Hf.sub.2La.sub.1Si.sub.1 1089 87.7 No. 30 Ti.sub.20Zr.sub.43Nb.sub.18Mo.sub.3Sn.sub.9Ta.sub.2V.sub.1Cr.sub.1Pb.sub.2P.sub.1 1209 88.1

[0038] From the forgoing Tables (2) and (3), it is easy to find that, the 20 samples of the high strength and low modulus alloy all include the characteristics of yield strength greater than 600 MPa and Young's modulus less than 90 GPa.

[0039] Therefore, through above descriptions, all embodiments and their experimental data of the high strength and low modulus alloy according to the present invention have been introduced completely and clearly; in summary, the present invention includes the advantages of:

[0040] (1) The present invention discloses a high strength and low modulus alloy, which comprises at least five principal elements and at least one additive element. The principal elements are Ti, Zr, Nb, Mo, and Sn, and the additive element(s) are V, W, Cr, and/or Hf Particularly, a summation of numeric values of Ti and Zr in atomic percent is less than or equal to 85, and the additive elements have a total numeric value in atomic percent less than or equal to 4. Experimental data have proved that, samples of the high strength and low modulus alloy all have properties of yield strength greater than 600 MPa and Young's modulus less than 90 GPa

[0041] (2) According to the experimental data, it is believed that the high strength and low modulus alloy of the present invention has a significant potential for applications in the manufacture of various industrial components and/or devices, medical devices, and surgical implants.

[0042] The above description is made on embodiments of the present invention. However, the embodiments are not intended to limit scope of the present invention, and all equivalent implementations or alterations within the spirit of the present invention still fall within the scope of the present invention.