Laser Remelting of Biocompatible Ti-Based Glass-Forming Alloys: Microstructure, Mechanical Properties, and Cytotoxicity
Year: 2025
Type: article
Abstract: Titanium-based bulk metallic glasses (BMGs) offer high strength, lower stiffness than Ti-6Al-4V, and superior corrosion resistance, but conventional Ti glass-forming systems often contain toxic Ni, Be, or Cu. This work investigates five novel Ti-based alloys free of these elements—Ti42Zr35Si5Co12.5Sn2.5Ta3, Ti42Zr40Ta3Si15, Ti60Nb15Zr10Si15, Ti39Zr32Si29, and Ti65.5Fe22.5Si12—synthesized by arc melting and suction casting. Single-track laser remelting using a selective laser melting (SLM) system was performed to simulate additive manufacturing and examine microstructural evolution, cracking behavior, mechanical properties, and cytocompatibility. All alloys solidified into fully crystalline α/β-Ti matrices with Ti/Zr silicides; no amorphous structures were obtained. Laser remelting refined the microstructure but did not induce glass formation, consistent with the known limited glass-forming ability of Cu/Ni/Be-free Ti systems. Cracking was observed at low laser energies but crack density decreased as laser energy increased. Cracks were eliminated above ~0.4 J/mm for most alloys. Ti42Zr35Si5Co12.5Sn2.5Ta3 exhibited the lowest stiffness (~125 GPa), while Ti60Nb15Zr10Si15 showed the highest due to silicide precipitation. Cytotoxicity tests (ISO 10993-5) confirmed all alloys to be non-toxic, with some extracts even enhancing fibroblast proliferation. This rapid laser-remelting approach enables cost-effective screening of Ti-based glass-forming alloys for additive manufacturing. Ti–Zr–Ta–Si systems demonstrated the most promising properties for further testing using the powder bed method.
Source: Materials
DOI: 10.3390/ma18245687
Language: English
Subfield: Mechanical Engineering
Field: Engineering
Domain: Physical Sciences
Open Access status: gold
Estimated APC paid: $3,137
Funder: Politechnika Wrocławska
OpenAlex ID: W4417461986