BIOCOMPATIBLE TITANIUM ALLOY OF TI-TA-ZR TYPE FOR APPLICATION IN ORTHOPAEDICS

摘要

The invention relates to a titanium-based alloy comprising elements of high bio-compatibility and to a process for making the same, said alloy being used especially for making spinal implants and other applications in orthopaedics. According to the invention, the alloy has the following chemical composition expressed in percentage by weight: 70% Ti, 25% Ta and 5% Zr. As claimed by the invention, the process consists in weighing the quantities of titanium, tantalum and zirconium according to the preset nominal composition, introducing the same into a furnace with a cold levitating crucible, in the descending order of their melting point, followed by vacuuming the working enclosure and achieving a protected argon atmosphere, after which, by increasing the furnace power, the alloy is melted in levitation condition, at a temperature of over 2000°C, followed by the gravitational casting into the ingot mould, performed by a sudden drop of the furnace power, the ingot cooling in the controlled atmosphere for 15 minutes and the extraction thereof from the ingot mould, after which there is performed another ingot melting in the same temperature and levitation conditions as in the first melting.