Effect of Si Content on the Thermal Expansion of Ti15Mo(0–2 Si) Biomaterial Alloys during Different Heating Rates

Thermal expansion measurements were used to characterize phase transformations in metastable β-Ti alloys (Ti15MoxSi) without and with various Si additions (where x = 0, 0.5, 1.0, 1.5, and 2 in wt.%) during linear heating at two heating rates of 5 and 10 °C/min up to 850 °C. For this study, five alloys were developed and examined in terms of their presence phases, microstructures, and starting and final transformation temperatures. According to the results, all of the as-cast samples primarily include an equiaxed β-Ti phase. The influence of phase transformation on the material dimensions was discussed and compared with the variations in Si contents. The transformation was investigated using a dilatometric technique for the developed alloys during continuous heating and cooling. The dilatometric curve of heating revealed two distinct reflection points as the heating temperature increased. The starting transformation temperature (T(s)) to obtain the ω-phase was reported at 359 °C without Si addition; whereas the final transformation temperature (T(f)) of the dissolution of α-phase was obtained at 572 °C at a heating rate of 10 °C/min. At 2 wt.% Si, the first derivative curves reported T(s) and T(f) transforming temperatures of 314–565 °C (at a 5 °C/min heating rate) and 270–540 °C (at a 10 °C/min heating rate), respectively. The T(s) and T(f) transforming temperatures were significantly decreased with Si additions, which decreased the β-transus temperature. Moreover, the thermal expansion coefficient curves of the investigated alloys without and with 2 wt.% Si were studied. The transformation heating curves have an S-shaped pattern, according to the results.