Rethinking Biomedical Titanium Alloy Design: A Review of Challenges from Biological and Manufacturing Perspectives.

Current biomedical titanium alloys have been repurposed from other industries, which has contributed to several biologically driven implant failure mechanisms. This review highlights the added value that may be gained by building an appreciation of implant biological responses at the onset of alloy design. Specifically, the fundamental mechanisms associated with immune response, angiogenesis, osseointegration and the potential threat of infection are discussed, including how elemental selection can modulate these pivotal systems.

First-principles thermodynamic investigation on the α phases in TiO and TiNb binary system.

O and Nb are two representative alloying elements of Ti to form high-temperature and corrosion resistance α Ti alloys. The investigation on the thermodynamic characteristics of α Ti-O and Ti-Nb has attracted much attention in recent years. However, in this regard, a satisfied experimental technique or modeling scheme is still yet to be developed due to the appearance of a variety of oxides in Ti-O and the mechanical instability present in Ti-Nb.

Interstitial diffusion of O, N, and C in α-Ti from first-principles: Analytical model and kinetic Monte Carlo simulations.

The high affinity of O, N, and C with α-Ti has a serious detrimental influence on the high-temperature properties of these alloys, promoting the formation of α-case. These elements dissolve in interstitial sites and diffuse very fast in α-Ti (10(3)-10(8) times higher than the self-diffusivity of Ti) at high temperature accelerating the growth of α phase surface layer. Understanding the diffusion mechanisms of these elements is crucial to the design of high-temperature Ti alloys.

Diffusion anisotropy of poor metal solute atoms in hcp-Ti.

Atom migration mechanisms influence a wide range of phenomena: solidification kinetics, phase equilibria, oxidation kinetics, precipitation of phases, and high-temperature deformation. In particular, solute diffusion mechanisms in α-Ti alloys can help explain their excellent high-temperature behaviour. The purpose of this work is to study self- and solute diffusion in hexagonal close-packed (hcp)-Ti, and its anisotropy, from first-principles using the 8-frequency model.

A new TriBeam system for three-dimensional multimodal materials analysis.

The unique capabilities of ultrashort pulse femtosecond lasers have been integrated with a focused ion beam (FIB) platform to create a new system for rapid 3D materials analysis. The femtosecond laser allows for in situ layer-by-layer material ablation with high material removal rates. The high pulse frequency (1 kHz) of ultrashort (150 fs) laser pulses can induce material ablation with virtually no thermal damage to the surrounding area, permitting high resolution imaging, as well as crystallographic and elemental analysis, without intermediate surface preparation or removal of the sample from the chamber.