Open Access Conference Proceedings

Additive manufacturing (AM) has introduced a practical route to fabricate complex, patient-specific metallic implants with controlled architectures that are difficult to achieve through conventional processing. Titanium alloys, in particular, remain central to biomedical applications because they combine high specific strength, corrosion resistance, and biological compatibility. Among them, Ti-6Al-4V has been extensively used due to its well-balanced mechanical properties, fatigue resistance, and stable oxide layer. However, the long-term release of vanadium ions under physiological conditions has raised concerns regarding cytotoxicity, which has driven the search for safer alloying elements. Niobium offers a viable alternative in this regard, as it is considered biologically inert and contributes to phase stability and corrosion resistance. This has led to the development of Ti-6Al-7Nb as a potential replacement alloy. In the present work, Ti-6Al-7Nb was produced using selective laser melting, and its microstructural features and mechanical response were examined and compared with conventionally processed Ti-6Al-4V, which serves as a practical benchmark due to its widespread clinical use. Since titanium alloys are inherently prone to wear, particularly under simultaneous mechanical and electrochemical exposure, their tribocorrosion behavior was further evaluated. To address surface-related limitations, laser shock peening was applied as a post-processing step, and its influence on microstructural evolution and mechanical performance was assessed. The outcomes provide a clearer understanding of how processing, composition, and surface modification interact, which is relevant for improving the durability of titanium-based biomaterials in demanding service environments.

Keywords: Selective laser melting;Tribocorrosion;Ti-6Al-7Nb;Ti-6Al-4V; Laser shock peening; Microstructure;

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