2016 Volume 57 Issue 12 Pages 1993-1997
In spinal fixation devices, the activity of the patient can cause fretting of the metal-to-metal contacts between the rod and plug, which may result in failures. In this study, compressive fatigue tests were conducted with rods made of Ti–29Nb–13Ta–4.6Zr alloy (TNTZ) with oxygen contents of 0.06 mass% (06O) and 0.89 mass% (89O) and Ti–6Al–4V extra low interstitial alloy (Ti64) as comparison in both air and saline solution. The fatigue strength increases in the order of 06O < 89O < Ti64 in both air and saline solution. These results indicate that solid-solution strengthening by oxygen improves the fretting fatigue resistance of the TNTZ rod.
