A project to develop new titanium alloy and the associated biological coating technology, jointly undertaken by three institutes, including the Northwest Institute of Non-ferrous Metals, has passed a verification check. The research team independently rolled out two proprietary titanium alloys: TLM (Ti-Zr-Sn-Mo-Nb) and TLE (Ti-Zr-Mo-Nb), both having fine biological and dynamic compatibility.  The two new alloys offer a comprehensive performance matched up with Ti-13Nb-13Zr, an internationally reported fine titanium alloy for medical applications.  With a reduced cost for raw materials, melting, processing, and heat treatment, the new products promise a scalable dynamic performance, with simplified processing techniques suitable for producing pipe, bar, plate, wire, and foil. TLM can be used to make human soft tissues, such as blood vessel stents and cardiac valves, and hard tissues, including joints and internal fixers. Both alloys can be adapted to diverse functions and applications, with a desirable cost-effect ratio.

The novel titanium oxide coating can form an even film over titanium alloy implant surfaces in diverse shapes, with a range of merits, including biological activity, even thickness, multiple pores, reduced elastic modulus, and enhanced adhesive strength.  The long term service capacity of the new coating materials is higher than traditional HA coating materials. Featured with good hardness, high adhesive strength, and friction reducing capacity in a liquid environment, the titanium nitride coating noticeably improves the friction resistance and work life of joints and other implants made of titanium alloy.