METHOD OF MODIFYING THE MICROSTRUCTURE OF TITANIUM ALLOYS FOR MANUFACTURING ORTHOPEDIC PROSTHESES AND THE PRODUCTS THEREOF

A titanium alloy subjected to thermal treatment followed by quenching. The thermal treatment raises the temperature of the alloy to a temperature above the alloy's recrystallization temperature and below the alloy's beta-transus temperature to cause a phase shift within the alloy. After the thermal treatment has been applied for a predetermined time, the alloy is rapidly quenched, preserving the phase shift induced by the thermal treatment. By the present method, the microstructure of the titanium alloy is changed from a fine grained alpha-beta phase to a microstructure substantially comprised of an equiaxed alpha phase and an acicular or plate-like alpha phase. The resulting prostheses may have a microstructure including between 25% and 75% percent acicular alpha phase, for example.