This specification covers the requirements fro wrought zirconium-2.5niobium alloy for use in surgical implant applications. The material shall be manufactured into bars or wires by multiple vacuum melting in arc furnaces, by electron beam melting, or by other melting processes conventionally used for reactive metals. The material shall be in the annealed condition, with the surface descaled or pickled, abrasively blasted, chemically milled, ground, machined, peeled, or polished. Heat and product analyses and tests for tensile strength, yield strength, and elongation shall be performed and shall conform to the requirements specified. In addition, the material shall have a microstructure consisting of a fine dispersion of the alpha and beta phases as a result of processing in the alpha plus beta field, with no coarse, elongated alpha platelets.

1.1 This specification covers the chemical, mechanical, and metallurgical requirements for wrought zirconium-2.5niobium alloy to be used in the manufacture of surgical implants (1).2

1.2 The values stated in either SI units or inch-pound units are to be regarded separately as standard. The values stated in each system are not necessarily exact equivalents; therefore, to ensure conformance with the standard, each system shall be used independently of the other, and values from the two systems shall not be combined.

1.3 This standard does not purport to address all of the safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appropriate safety, health, and environmental practices and determine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use.

1.4 This international standard was developed in accordance with internationally recognized principles on standardization established in the Decision on Principles for the Development of International Standards, Guides and Recommendations issued by the World Trade Organization Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.