Shape memory characteristics of microwave sintered porous Ti–30 at.%Ta alloy for biomedical applications

Abstract

In this work, the influence of microwave sintering time and temperature on the microstructure characterisation, and thermal and mechanical behaviours of Ti–30Ta were investigated. The relative densities of Ti–30Ta samples were in the range of 65–72% and as the sintering times/temperatures increased, the relative density decreased. The pore size averages were in the range of 6–17 µm with different sintering parameters, for instance the smallest pore size of 6.8 µm was observed after being sintered at 900 ℃ for 30 min (Ta2). Two morphologies of plate-like (P) and needle-like (N) structures were observed, as well as two regions – dark region (Ti-rich region) and bright region (Ta-rich region), also two phases – β and α. The DSC results revealed that the Ms to Mf transformation range was 98.86 to 80.5 ℃, respectively, while the range of As to Af transformation was about −22.35 to 92 ℃, respectively. The maximum fracture strength and its strain were acquired in the sintered sample of 900 ℃ for 30 min. The total strain recovery (ɛT) was improved linearly as the sintering temperature increased, correspondingly, the best ɛT was implied in Ti–Ta shape memory alloys after being sintered at 1000 ℃ for 30 min (Ta4).