Forming Model Optimization and Microstructural Analysis of Medical Biological Porous Scaffolds Fabricated by Selective Laser Melting (SLM)

Optimally designed bone implants with a suitable porous structure have similar mechanical properties to bone tissue and at the same time have good biocompatible and excellent bioactivity. The preparation of medical biological porous scaffolds by metal 3D printing technology is one of the most promising and attractive biomedical applications. The traditional regular porous and self-growing porous scaffolds were established by using CAD and C4D software, and the different scaffolds of three-dimensional models in similar porosity was obtained. A three-dimensional model of a scaffold with a porous structure was designed, and the porous scaffold was prepared by selective laser melting (SLM) technique, and its microstructure and mechanical properties were analysed. Under the similar porosity, the average hardness of the surface of the self-growing structure porous scaffold reached 236.5HV, and the stress at 5% compressive strain after heat treatment was close to 75 MPa. The original surface of the 316L porous scaffold made by SLM has the potential to effectively promote the differentiation of MG63 cells into osteoblasts. At the same time, the surface morphology and structure of the self-growth scaffold are similar to human cancellous bone, which is conducive to cell attachment and growth, so it is more suitable for repairing diseased parts of human bones.

Keywords:
Selective laser melting (SLM); porous biomaterial; self-growing porous scaffolds; mechanical properties