RESUMO
This study addresses the applicability of the ECAP-Conform process for the production of strengthened titanium to produce dental implants. For this purpose, the commercially pure titanium (CP-Ti) grade 2 was subjected to the ECAP-Conform process with a square cross-section die (at a temperature of 240 °C). This process improved the mechanical properties of CP-Ti grade 2 after one pass, such that both strength and hardness have increased by 35%. The functional properties of dental implants produced from the strengthened titanium and the as-received CP-Ti were compared. It was found that the average grain was reduced from 8.35 µm to 2.35 µm after one pass ECAP-Conform process (i.e. about 72% reduction in grain size). Also, the strength and energy absorption of CP-Ti dental implants made after one pass ECAP-Conform increased by 53% and 139%, respectively.
