The microstructure evolution, wear and corrosion behavior of biomedical Ti40Zr40Nb5Ta12Sn3 MEA at different heat treatment conditions

Abstract

In the present study, the microstructure, wear and corrosion properties of a novel Ti₄₀Zr₄₀Nb₅Ta₁₂Sn₃ medium-entropy alloy (MEA) processed by warm rolling and subsequent heat treatment were investigated. The findings reveal nanoscale α” phase precipitated in the alloy following annealing at temperatures of 450 °C, 550 °C, and 650 °C. During the friction and wear of the MEA, it was observed that the wet friction coefficient and wear rate of the alloy surpassed those under dry friction conditions. The wear mechanisms of alloys were abrasive wear and oxidation wear during dry friction, and abrasive wear and corrosion wear during wet friction. Furthermore, Sn₃–450 alloy exhibited exceptional corrosion resistance compared to Ti6Al4V alloy, with a lower corrosion current density (I_corr: 0.165 μA·cm⁻²) and a higher corrosion potential (E_corr: −0.638 ± 0.015 V) in phosphate buffered saline (PBS) solution. These results suggest the significant potential application of the Sn₃–450 alloy in biomedical applications.