Effect of phase conditions on tensile and antibacterial properties of Ti-Cu alloys with Ti2Cu intermetallic compound

In this study, the effect of phase conditions on the tensile behaviors of Ti-Cu alloys with Cu contents of 0, 10, 20, and 30 wt% is investigated by controlling the annealing temperature. An in-depth characterization of the alloy microstructure is performed using scanning electron microscopy and transmission electron microscopy. The results suggest that the mechanical properties of the Ti-Cu alloys are strongly affected by the Cu content in alpha lath, which is dependent on the volume of Ti2Cu rather than Ti2Cu itself. A high volume of Ti2Cu reduces the Cu content in alpha lath, resulting in high elongation and low strength. Ti2Cu has superior antibacterial properties when compared with that of the Cu-supersaturated alpha lath. This study provides new insights into the design of Ti-Cu alloys for application as a biomaterial. (C) 2022 Published by Elsevier B.V.

Automated summary

In this study, the impact of phase conditions on the tensile behaviors of Ti-Cu alloys was investigated. The results showed that the mechanical properties of the alloys were strongly influenced by the Cu content in alpha lath, which depended on the volume of Ti2Cu. A higher volume of Ti2Cu resulted in lower Cu content in alpha lath, leading to higher elongation and lower strength. Additionally, Ti2Cu exhibited superior antibacterial properties compared to Cu-supersaturated alpha lath. This study provides new insights for the design of Ti-Cu alloys as biomaterials.