Binary titanium-zirconium alloy for surgical implants and a suitable manufacturing process

• US 8,168,012 B2
• Filed: 02/09/2009
• Issued: 05/01/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 06/10/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Straumann Holding AG
• Original Assignee: Straumann Holding AG
• Inventors: Steinemann, Samuel
• Primary Examiner(s): King, Roy
• Assistant Examiner(s): MORILLO, JANELL COMBS
• Application Number:
  US12/367,978
• Publication Number:
  US 20090139617A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,177 Days
• Field of Search: 420417-421, 148/421, 148/670
• US Class Current: 148/421
• 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. A binary single phase titanium-zirconium alloy suitable for the production of surgical implants, said alloy comprising a zirconium content of 9.9% by weight to 19.9% 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.

2. Titanium-zirconium alloy as claimed in claim 1, wherein the zirconium content is 14-15% by weight.

3. A device selected from the group consisting of implants in dental surgery, abutments and elements for suprastructures comprising the titanium-zirconium alloy of claim 1.

5. A surgical implant comprising the titanium-zirconium alloy of claim 1.

6. An implant for dental surgery, abutments and elements for suprastructures as in claim 5.

7. The titanium-zirconium alloy as in claim 1, wherein the alloy is hot forged and/or cold worked prior to processing into an implant.

9. The titanium-zirconium alloy as in claim 1, comprising up to 0.5% by weight of hafnium as part of said technical impurities.

12. The binary single phase titanium-zirconium alloy according to claim 1, suitable for the production of surgical implants, said alloy comprising a zirconium content of 9.9% by weight to 19.9% 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.

4. 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 9.9% by weight to 19.9% 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.

8. 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 9.9% by weight to 19.9% 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.

10. A surgical implant comprising a binary single phase titanium-zirconium alloy, said alloy comprising a zirconium content of 9.9% by weight to 19.9% 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.

11. The surgical implant according to claim 10, wherein the zirconium content is 14-15% by weight.