Binary Titanium-Zirconium Alloy for Surgical Implants and a Suitable Manufacturing Process

• US 20090139617A1
• Filed: 02/09/2009
• Published: 06/04/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 06/10/1997
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Straumann Holding AG
• Original Assignee: Straumann Holding AG
• Inventors: Steinemann, Samuel
• Granted Patent: US 8,168,012 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 148/670
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2310/00023 Titanium or titanium-based alloys, e.g. Ti-Ni alloys
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 27/06 Titanium or titanium alloys
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 31/022 Metals or alloys

Abstract

The present invention relates to a binary single phase titanium-zirconium alloy suitable for the production of surgical implants. The alloy includes a zirconium content of less than 25% but more than 5% by weight, and 0.1% to 0.3% by weight of oxygen as a strength enhancing additive, and not more than 1% by weight of other strength enhancing additives and technical impurities.

Claims

1-10. -10. (canceled)

11. A binary single phase titanium-zirconium alloy suitable for the production of surgical implants, said alloy comprising a zirconium content of less than 19% by weight but more than 10% by weight, 0.1% to 0.3% by weight of oxygen as a strength enhancing additive and not more than 1% by weight of other strength enhancing additives and technical impurities, the alloy being obtainable by a process involving the following steps:

(i) hot forging said alloy at a temperature above alpha/beta phase transition; and

(ii) rapidly cooling said alloy to obtain the single phase titanium-zirconium alloy;

wherein said alloy is subsequently cold processed.

12. Titanium-zirconium alloy as claimed in claim 11, wherein the zirconium content is 14-15% by weight.

13. A device selected from the group consisting of implants in dental surgery, abutments and elements for suprastructrues comprising the titanium-zirconium alloy of claim 11.

15. A surgical implant comprising the titanium-zirconium alloy of claim 11.

16. An implants for dental surgery, abutments and elements for suprastructures as in claim 15.

17. The titanium-zirconium alloy as in claim 11, wherein the alloy is hot forged and/or cold worked prior to processing into an implant.

19. The titanium-zirconium alloy as in claim 11, comprising up to 0.5% by weight of hafnium as part of said technical impurities.

22. The binary single phase titanium-zirconium alloy according to claim 11, suitable for the production of surgical implants, said alloy comprising a zirconium content of less than 19% by weight but more than 10% by weight, 0.1% to 0.3% by weight of oxygen as a strength enhancing additive and not more than 1% by weight of other strength enhancing additives and technical impurities, the alloy being obtainable by a process involving the following steps:

(i) hot forging said alloy at a temperature above alpha/beta phase transition; and

(ii) rapidly cooling said alloy to obtain the single phase titanium-zirconium alloy;

wherein said alloy is subsequently cold processed-and has a tensile strength of at least 769 MPa.

14. A process for producing a surgical implant, said process comprising incorporating into said implant a binary single phase titanium-zirconium alloy, said alloy comprising a zirconium content of less than 19% by weight but more than 10% by weight, 0.1% to 0.3% by weight of oxygen as a strength enhancing additive and not more than 1% by weight of other strength enhancing additives and technical impurities, the alloy being obtainable by a process involving the following steps:

(i) hot forging said alloy at a temperature above alpha/beta phase transition; and

(ii) rapidly cooling said alloy to obtain the single phase titanium-zirconium alloy;

wherein the forging process is carried out at temperatures above 850°

C., the alloy is then cooled rapidly and subsequently cold worked.

18. A process for producing a surgical implant, said process comprising incorporating into said implant a binary single titanium-zirconium alloy, said alloy comprising a zirconium content of less than 19% by weight but more than 10% by weight, 0.1% to 0.3% by weight of oxygen as a strength enhancing additive and not more than 1% by weight of other strength enhancing additives and technical impurities, said process comprising:

(a) forging the alloy in the range of alpha/beta phase transition at 770°

C. to 830°

C.;

(b) cooling the alloy rapidly; and

(c) cold working the alloy.

20. A surgical implant comprising a binary single phase titanium-zirconium alloy, said alloy comprising a zirconium content of less than 19% by weight but more than 10% by weight, 0.1% to 0.3% by weight of oxygen as a strength enhancing additive and not more than 1% by weight of other strength enhancing additives and technical impurities, the alloy being obtainable by a process involving the following steps:

(i) hot forging said alloy at a temperature above alpha/beta phase transition; and

(ii) rapidly cooling said alloy to obtain the single phase titanium-zirconium alloy;

wherein said alloy is subsequently cold processed.

21. The surgical implant according to claim 20, wherein the zirconium content is 14-15% by weight.