Synthesis and characterization of porous titanium structures obtained by gel-casting and sintering for biomedical applications

ABSTRACT

The proper handling of porous structures in biomedical applications has relevant importance to avoid bone resorption and to allow the correct bone ingrowth. This structure leads to the nucleation and growing of bone inside them, obtaining a correct bonding between implant and bone. Consequently, this work investigates a manufacturing process of porous titanium structures obtained by means of a powder metallurgy technique based on gel-casting and sintering. This technique allows us to control the size, shape and distribution of the pores aiming to obtain a metallic structure capable to be utilized for biomedical implants. Samples were prepared by mixing different weight fractions of titanium hydride powder and acrylic resin powder (analyzed mixes were composed of 3%, 6%, 9%, 12%, 15%, 18% and 21% weight fraction of acrylic resin). The results indicate that it is possible to get samples with adequate porous structure, and microstructures with different kind of porosities (11% to 91% pore fraction) and porous size (3 µm up to 195 µm) in a wide range of values. This process allows to choose the appropriate pore characteristics for a certain application.

Keywords
Biomaterials; porous titanium; gel-casting; sintering process