Beta-based titanium alloy with low elastic modulus

Abstract

Provided is a beta-based titanium alloy with a low elastic modulus, including no elements harmful to the human body and having excellent biocompatibility. The beta-based titanium alloy includes titanium (Ti), niobium (Nb) and zirconium (Zr) as major alloying elements, and further includes tantalum (Ta), hafnium (Hf), molybdenum (Mo), tin (Sn), and the like. The beta-based titanium alloy has a much lower elastic modulus than the typical biomedical titanium alloys, and thus can resolve the problem of so-called “stress shield effect.” Therefore, the beta-based titanium alloy can be widely used as a material for general civilian goods such as eyewear frames and headsets and sports and leisure goods, as well as a biomedical material for artificial bones, artificial teeth and artificial hip joints.

1 . A titanium alloy comprising 37 wt. % to 41 wt. % niobium (Nb), 5 wt. % to 8 wt. % zirconium (Zr), and a balance of titanium (Ti), with unavoidable impurities, and having an elastic modulus of 55 GPa or lower. 
     
     
         2 . The titanium alloy of  claim 1 , wherein the elastic modulus thereof is 50 GPa or lower. 
     
     
         3 . The titanium alloy with a low elastic modulus of  claim 1 , further comprising one or more elements selected from tantalum (Ta), hafnium (Hf), molybdenum (Mo) and tin (Sn), whose total content is 3 wt. % or lower. 
     
     
         4 . The titanium alloy with a low elastic modulus of  claim 1 , wherein the content of niobium (Nb) is 38 wt % to 40 wt. %, and the content of zirconium (Zr) is 5 wt. % to 7 wt. %. 
     
     
         5 . The titanium alloy with a low elastic modulus of  claim 2 , wherein the content of niobium (Nb) is 37 wt. % to 39 wt. %, the content of zirconium (Zr) is 5 wt. % to 7 wt. %, and the titanium alloy further comprises 1 wt. % to 3 wt. % tantalum (Ta). 
     
     
         6 . The titanium alloy with a low elastic modulus of  claim 2 , wherein the content of niobium (Nb) is 38 wt. % to 40 wt. %, and the content of zirconium (Zr) is 5 wt. % to 7 wt. %.