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.
Mg–Sn–Al alloy is a new type of heat-resistant magnesium alloy with great potential and the hot deformation process of this alloy is of great significance for its application. The microstructure, hot deformation behavior, textural evolution, and processing map of a Mg–8 wt.% Sn–1.5 wt.% Al alloy were studied. A Gleeble 1500 D thermo-mechanical simulator was used. The temperature of deformation was 653 to 773 K, the strain rate was 0.001–1 s−1, and the maximum deformation degree was 60%. The obtained results show that the rheological stress of the alloy decreases with an increase in deformation temperature and increases with an increase in the strain rate. The alloy is completely dynamically recrystallized at 653 K, and the entire structure is formed of homogeneous crystals/grains, with small secondary phase particles distributed at the crystal boundary. The mean apparent activation energy of hot compression deformation is 153.5 kJ/mol. The Mg–8 wt.% Sn–1.5 wt.% Al alloy exhibits excellent plastic deformation properties, an expansive thermal processing interval, and a narrow instability zone under the test temperature and deformation rate. The optimal process parameters of the alloy comprise deformation temperatures between 603 and 633 K and strain rates of 0.03 to 0.005 s−1.