Publication

Abstract : The limited wear resistance and debris-induced biological complications of commercially pure titanium (Ti) restrict its long-term reliability in load-bearing biomedical implants. This study aims to develop a tribologically robust and biologically compatible Ti-based composite by incorporating hexagonal boron nitride (hBN) as a multifunctional reinforcement capable of simultaneously enhancing mechanical performance and reducing wear-induced failure. Ti (1–5 wt%) hBN composites were synthesized via powder metallurgy (PM) and sintered at 1300 °C to investigate the influence of reinforcement content on microstructure, tribomechanical behavior, and cytocompatibility. Microstructural analysis confirmed uniform dispersion of hBN with in situ formation of TiB/TiB2 whiskers, contributing to significant strengthening. Among the compositions, Ti-3 wt% hBN exhibited optimal performance, achieving ∼91.8% relative density, ∼376.7 HV hardness (∼109% higher than pure Ti), and a compressive strength of 435 MPa (∼2.4 × improvement). Tribological testing revealed a minimum wear rate of ∼0.21 mm³ /min, indicating superior wear resistance. Cytotoxicity evaluation using L929 cells demonstrated excellent biocompatibility, with cell viability exceeding 190%. These results establish Ti-3 wt% hBN as a promising candidate for advanced biomedical implants requiring a synergistic balance of strength, wear resistance, and biological safety.