Development and Characterization of Ti6Al4V/Bioactive Glass Composites Produced via Powder Metallurgy

This study investigates the development and characterization of Ti6Al4V-based composites reinforced with bioactive glass (BG) at varying weight ratios (1, 3, 5, and 10 wt.%) using the powder metallurgy method. The effects of BG incorporation on the microstructure, density, hardness, wear resistance, and corrosion behavior of the composites were comprehensively analyzed. Scanning electron microscopy and XRD analyses revealed that while 1 wt.% BG was homogeneously distributed, higher BG content led to localized agglomerations and suppressed the β-Ti phase. Hardness values increased significantly with BG content due to dispersion hardening and the inherent properties of the oxide-rich BG structure. However, wear mechanisms shifted from adhesive to abrasive with the increasing BG content, resulting in increased wear rates. Corrosion tests indicated that although 1 wt.% BG improved the corrosion resistance, higher BG ratios accelerated the degradation due to ion dissolution and localized pitting. Overall, the composite containing 1 wt.% BG exhibited the most favorable combination of enhanced hardness, reduced density, and maintained tribological and corrosion performance, suggesting its potential suitability for biomedical load-bearing applications.