For this paper, studies of the microstructure as well as the mechanical and biological properties of bioinert titanium, zirconium, and niobium alloys in their nanostructured (NS) and ultrafine-grained (UFG) states have been completed. The NS and UFG states were formed by a combined two-step method of severe plastic deformation (SPD), first with multidirectional forging (MDF) or pressing into a symmetrical channel (PSC) at a given temperature regime, and then subsequent multi-pass groove rolling (MPGR) at room temperature, with pre-recrystallization annealing. Annealing increased the plasticity of the alloys in the NS and UFG states without changing the grain size. The UFG structure, with an average size of structural elements of no more than 0.3 μm, was formed as a result of applying two-step SPD and annealing. This structure presented significant improvement in the mechanical characteristics of the alloys, in comparison with the alloys in the coarse-grained (CG) or small-grained (SG) states. At the same time, although the formation of the UFG structure leads to a significant increase in the yield strength and tensile strength of the alloys, their elastic modulus did not change. In terms of biocompatibility, the cultivation of MG-63 osteosarcoma cells on the polished and sandblasted substrates demonstrated high cell viability after 10 days and good cell adhesion to the surface.

A comprehensive study was performed of the deformation and temperature behavior during quasi-static tension, as well as the peculiarities of accumulation and dissipation of energy during plastic deformation. Microstructural analysis at the pre-fracture stage of pure titanium and Ti-45Nb alloy in the coarse grain (CG) and ultrafine-grained (UFG) states was also conducted. It was shown that substructural and dispersion hardening leads to a change in the regularities of dissipation and accumulation energies during deformation of the samples of the pure titanium and Ti-45Nb alloy in the UFG state. Some features of structural transformations during deformation of the pure titanium and Ti-45Nb alloy samples in the CG and UFG states were studied. A band and cellular-network and fragmented dislocation structure was formed in the case of the CG state, while large anisotropic fragments were formed in the UFG state, thus specifying a local softening of the material before fracture.

The microstructural investigation, mechanical properties, and accumulation and dissipation of energies of the magnesium alloy Mg-2.9Y-1.3Nd in the recrystallized state and after severe plastic deformation (SPD) by extrusion are presented. The use of SPD provides the formation of a bimodal structure consisting of grains with an average size 15 µm and of ultrafine-grained grains with sizes less than 1 µm and volume fractions up to 50%, as well as of the fine particles of the second Mg₂₄Y₅ phases. It is established that grain refinement during extrusion is accompanied by an increase of the yield strength, increase of the tensile strength by 1.5 times, and increase of the plasticity by 1.8 times, all of which are due to substructural hardening, redistribution of the phase composition, and texture formation. Using infrared thermography, it was revealed that before the destruction of Mg-2.9Y-1.3Nd in the recrystallized state, there is a sharp jump of temperature by 10 °C, and the strain hardening coefficient becomes negative and amounts to (−6) GPa. SPD leads to a redistribution of thermal energy over the sample during deformation, does not cause a sharp increase in temperature, and reduces the strain hardening coefficient by 2.5 times.

The effect of extrusion on the mechanical properties of biomedical alloys based on Mg–Y–Nd and Mg–Ca systems is studied. The alloys are deformed by hot backward extrusion, accumulated deformation is e = 1.46. It is shown that the extrusion leads to the formation of bimodal structures that are disperse-strengthened by Mg₂₄Y₅ and Mg₂Ca particles and consist of α-phase magnesium grains with mean sizes of 14 and 9 μm for Mg–Y–Nd and Mg–Ca alloys, respectively, and α-phase grains with a size of less than 1 µm for both alloys (the volume fractions are 22 and 50%, respectively). The bimodal structure in the Mg–Y–Nd and Mg–Ca alloys provides an increase in the yield strength by factors of 1.5 and 2.5, respectively, and an increase in ductility by factors of 1.8 and 6.3, respectively, due to substructure strengthening, redistribution of phase composition, and emerging texture. It is shown that the extrusion treatment of the Mg–Y–Nd alloy does not result in worsening of corrosion resistance of the alloy in physiological solution (0.9% NaCl solution in distilled water, pH 7) unlike the Mg–Ca alloy for which the presence of a larger volume fraction of ultrafine grains and intergranular boundaries leads to a significant increase in corrosion rate.

Introduction. The interest of modern medical materials science is focused on the development of beta-alloys of ternary systems (TNZ) based on titanium, niobium and zirconium with the low Young’s modulus, which is comparable with the elastic modulus of the bone. A wide application of the above alloys in medicine is limited by its insufficiently high strength properties, such as yield strength, ultimate strength, fatigue strength, fatigue life, etc. The formation of bulk ultrafine-grained structure in the alloys via deformation processing, including severe plastic deformation, ensures a considerable increase in the mechanical properties of alloys without toxic alloying elements. The aim of the work is to analyze the influence of deformation (multipass rolling and abc-pressing in combination with rolling) on the microstructure and mechanical properties of the alloy of the Ti-Nb-Zr system. The research methods. The Ti-42Nb-7Zr alloy cast blanks were made from pure titanium, niobium, and zirconium iodides by arc melting with a tungsten electrode in the protective argon atmosphere. It is shown that the cast blanks obtained have a high degree of uniformity in the distribution of niobium and zirconium alloying elements. To form an ultrafine-grained (UFG) structure, the cast blanks were subjected to deformation according to two schemes: 1) multipass rolling and 2) a combined method of severe plastic deformation, consisting in abc-pressing and subsequent multipass groove rolling. Results and discussion. As a result of deformation processing by rolling, an ultrafine-grained (UFG) structure is formed, which is represented by non-equiaxed -subgrains with cross-sectional dimensions 0.2…0.8 µm and length 0.2…0.7 µm, dispersion strengthened nanosized ω-phase, as well as subgrains of the -phase. Application of combined severe plastic deformation has promoted formation of a more dispersed UFG (+ω)-structure with an average size of structural elements equal to 0.3 μm. The UFG structure formed as a result of two-stage SPD has provided a high level of mechanical properties: yield strength – 480 MPa, ultimate strength – 1.100 MPa, microhardness – 2.800 MPa, with a low modulus of elasticity equal to 36 GPa.