Binary titanium-zirconium alloy for surgical implants as well as production process thereof

Abstract

The present invention relates to a binary single phase titanium-zirconium alloy suitable for the production of surgical implants. The alloy includes a zirconium content of less than 25% but more than 5% by weight, and 0.1% to 0.3% by weight of oxygen as a strength enhancing additive, and not more than 1% by weight of other strength enhancing additives and technical impurities.

1 - 10 . (canceled)  
     
     
         11 . A binary single phase titanium-zirconium alloy suitable for the production of surgical implants, with a zirconium content of less than 25% by weight but more than 5% by weight, comprising 0.1% to 0.3% by weight of oxygen as a strength enhancing additive and not more than 1% by weight of other strength enhancing additives and technical impurities, the alloy being obtainable by a process involving the following steps: 
 (i) hot forging said alloy at a temperature above alpha/beta phase transition; and    (ii) rapidly cooling said alloy to obtain the single phase titanium-zirconium alloy.    
     
     
         12 . The titanium-zirconium alloy as claimed in  claim 11 , wherein the alloy is subsequently cold processed.  
     
     
         13 . Titanium-zirconium alloy as claimed in  claim 11 , wherein the zirconium content is less than 19% by weight (corresponding to 11 atomic %) but more than 10% by weight (corresponding to 5.5 atomic %).  
     
     
         14 . Titanium-zirconium alloy as claimed in  claim 11 , wherein the zirconium content is 14-15% by weight.  
     
     
         15 . A device selected from the group consisting of implants in dental surgery, abutments and elements for suprastructrues comprising the titanium-zirconium alloy of  claim 11 .  
     
     
         16 . Process for production of the allow of  claim 11 , wherein the forging process is carried out at temperatures above 850° C., the alloy is then cooled rapidly and subsequently cold worked.  
     
     
         17 . A surgical implant comprising the titanium-zirconium alloy of  claim 11 .  
     
     
         18 . An implants for dental surgery, abutments and elements for suprastructures as in  claim 17 .  
     
     
         19 . The titanium-zirconium alloy as in  claim 11 , wherein the alloy is hot forged and/or cold worked prior to processing into an implant.  
     
     
         20 . A process for producing the titanium-zirconium alloy of  claim 11  comprising: 
 (a) forging the alloy in the range of alpha/beta phase transition at 770° C. to 830° C.;    (b) cooling the alloy rapidly; and    (c) cold working the alloy.    
     
     
         21 . The titanium-zirconium alloy as in  claim 11 , comprising up to 0.5% by weight of hafnium as part of said technical impurities.