Comparison of titanium-tantalum and titanium-niobium alloys for application as dental implants.

For the diffusion bonding of Ti alloys to alumina, materials with a similar thermal expansion coefficient to alumina are required. Such materials were developed by alloying the biocompatible elements Ta and Nb to titanium (Ti-Ta30 and Ti-Ta40, Ti-Nb40 and Ti-Nb50). While measuring the corrosion behavior of these alloys in 0.9% saline solution, no difference could be observed. The Ti-Ta alloys are superior in their mechanical properties to Ti-Nb alloys.