Beta-based titanium alloy with low elastic modulus

Abstract

A beta-based titanium alloy with a low elastic modulus includes 37 wt. % to 41 wt. % niobium (Nb), 5 wt. % to 8 wt. % zirconium (Zr), and a balance of titanium (Ti), with unavoidable impurities, and having an elastic modulus of 47 GPa or lower. The beta-based titanium alloy has a much lower elastic modulus than the typical biomedical titanium alloys, and thus can resolve the problem of so-called “stress shield effect.” Therefore, the beta-based titanium alloy can be widely used as a material for general civilian goods such as eyewear frames and headsets and sports and leisure goods, as well as a biomedical material for artificial bones, artificial teeth and artificial hip joints.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A titanium alloy comprising 37 wt. % to 41 wt. % niobium (Nb), 5 wt. % to 8 wt. % zirconium (Zr), and a balance of titanium (Ti), with unavoidable impurities, and having an elastic modulus of 47 GPa or lower. 
     
     
         2 . The titanium alloy of  claim 1 , wherein the elastic modulus thereof is 45 GPa or lower. 
     
     
         3 . The titanium alloy of  claim 1 , wherein the elastic modulus thereof is 42 GPa or lower. 
     
     
         4 . The titanium alloy with a low elastic modulus of  claim 1 , further comprising one or more elements selected from tantalum (Ta), hafnium (Hf), molybdenum (Mo) and tin (Sn), whose total content is 3 wt. % or lower. 
     
     
         5 . The titanium alloy with a low elastic modulus of  claim 1 , wherein the content of niobium (Nb) is 38 wt. % to 40 wt. %, and the content of zirconium (Zr) is 5.5 wt. % to 7 wt. %. 
     
     
         6 . The titanium alloy with a low elastic modulus of  claim 4 , wherein the content of niobium (Nb) is 38 wt. % to 40 wt. %, the content of zirconium (Zr) is 5.5 wt. % to 7 wt. %, and the titanium alloy further comprises 0.1 wt. % to 3 wt. % tantalum (Ta).