Semlitsch M, Weber H, Streicher R M, Schön R
Sulzer Medizinaltechnik, F+E Biomaterialien, Winterthur, Schweiz.
Biomed Tech (Berl). 1991 May;36(5):112-9. doi: 10.1515/bmte.1991.36.5.112.
In 1978 development of a TiAl alloy with the inert alloying element niobium was initiated. In 1984, the optimal composition was found to be Ti-6Al-7Nb (Protasul-100). This custom-made alloy for implants has the same alpha/beta micro-structure and equally good mechanical properties as Ti-6Al-4V. The corrosion resistance of Ti-6Al-7Nb is better than that of pure titanium and Ti-6Al-4V, due to the very dense and stable passive layer. Since 1985, highly stressed anchoring stems of various hip prosthesis designs have been manufactured from hot-forged Ti-6Al-7Nb/Protasul-100. Polished surfaces of hip, knee or wrist joints made of Ti-6Al-7Nb intended to articulate with polyethylene are surface-treated by the application of a very hard, 3-5 microns thick titanium nitride coating (Tribosul-TiN), or by oxygen diffusion hardening (Tribosul-ODH) to a depth of 30 microns.
1978年，开始研发含有惰性合金元素铌的钛铝合金。1984年，发现最佳成分为Ti-6Al-7Nb（Protasul-100）。这种定制的植入合金具有与Ti-6Al-4V相同的α/β微观结构和同样良好的机械性能。由于其非常致密且稳定的钝化层，Ti-6Al-7Nb的耐腐蚀性优于纯钛和Ti-6Al-4V。自1985年以来，各种髋关节假体设计的高应力锚固柄均由热锻Ti-6Al-7Nb/Protasul-100制成。由Ti-6Al-7Nb制成的旨在与聚乙烯铰接的髋关节、膝关节或腕关节的抛光表面，通过涂覆一层非常硬的、3至5微米厚的氮化钛涂层（Tribosul-TiN），或通过氧扩散硬化（Tribosul-ODH）至30微米的深度进行表面处理。
