Cold crucible levitation melting of biomedical Ti-30 wt%Ta alloy.
Recently, titanium-tantalum alloys have been studied as implant materials for dental and orthopedic surgery. However, titanium and tantalum are difficult to mix by common arc melting and induction melting, because of their high melting point and the marked difference between their densities (Ti: 1,680 degrees C, 4.5 g/cm3, Ta: 2,990 degrees C, 16.6 g/cm3). Thus, the Cold Crucible Levitation Melting (CCLM) method was chosen to produce a Ti-30 wt%Ta binary alloy in the present study. The CCLM furnace, with 1 kg capacity, consisted of a water-cooled crucible comprising oxygen-free high purity copper segments and coils wrapped around the crucible and connected to a frequency inverter power supply. A qualified ingot of 1.0 kg of Ti-30 wt%Ta alloy was obtained. The ingot was characterized from the surface quality, chemical composition distribution and microstructure, and finally the melting process was discussed.
Fukui
H
H
Department of Dental Materials Science, Science Frontier Research Center, School of Dentistry, Aichi-Gakuin University, Nagoya, Japan.
Yang
W
W
Yamada
S
S
Fujishiro
Y
Y
Morita
A
A
Niinomi
M
M
D000497:Alloys / Q000138:chemical synthesis / Q000737:chemistry*; D001672:Biocompatible Materials / Q000138:chemical synthesis / Q000737:chemistry*; D002627:Chemistry, Physical / Q000295:instrumentation*; D003300:Copper; D003722:Dental Alloys / Q000138:chemical synthesis / Q000737:chemistry; D004577:Electron Probe Microanalysis; D004867:Equipment Design; D006358:Hot Temperature; D006801:Humans; D008422:Materials Testing; D013635:Tantalum / Q000737:chemistry*; D014025:Titanium / Q000737:chemistry*; D014867:Water
D000497:Alloys; D001672:Biocompatible Materials; D003722:Dental Alloys; D014867:Water; D013635:Tantalum; D003300:Copper; D014025:Titanium