Microstructure and Mechanical Behavior of Porous Ti–6Al–4V Processed by Spherical Powder Sintering

Abstract

Reducing the stiffness of titanium is an important issue to improve the behavior of this material when working together with bone, which can be achieved by generating a porous structure. The aim of this research was to analyze the porosity and mechanical behavior of Ti–6Al–4V porous samples developed by spherical powder sintering. Four different microsphere sizes were sintered at temperatures ranging from 1300 to 1400 °C for 2, 4 and 8 h. An open, interconnected porosity was obtained, with mean pore sizes ranging from 54.6 to 140 µm. The stiffness of the samples diminished by as much as 40% when compared to that of solid material and the mechanical properties were affected mainly by powder particles size. Bending strengths ranging from 48 to 320 MPa and compressive strengths from 51 to 255 MPa were obtained.

Effect of particle size and sintering time on the mechanical properties of porous Ti–6Al–4V implant

“…However, samples sintered from finer particle sizes tend to have higher Young's modulus when compared to ones formed from coarse particle sizes, one of the reasons for this observation is that finer particles are likely to develop better interparticle necking during sintering which in turn will reduce the porosity and give rise to higher Young's modulus. This is also in line with was reported various literatures [18,19].…”

“…This result coincides with what was reported by some researchers. Lucía Reig et al observed that the stiffness and bending strength of sintered porous Ti-6Al-4V samples increases with sintering time [17,18], while Jose Luis et al established that there is a polynomial relationship between Young's modulus and relative density of the sintered porous Ti alloy [19]. The negative effect of porosity on Young's modulus was also corroborated by Martínez et al [20].…”

Stress Transmission and Failure in Disordered Porous Media

“…For example, reducing the stiffness of orthopedic implants by engineering the pores is important for their behavior in contact with bone [7,[15][16][17]19,20]. In not only powder and sintered products such as pharmaceutical compacts [21] but also well-known homogeneous brittle materials such as glasses [25], the variability of mechanical properties may be reduced by taking advantage of the porous texture without lowering the porosity, which is sometimes required for functions such as impact resistance and adsorption.…”

Synthesis of Ti-Zr alloy by powder metallurgy

“…Titanium alloys have a low weight, good mechanical properties, especially low elastic modulus and low density. Chemical properties, such as corrosion resistance, are also very good [1,2]. Moreover, it is known that titanium and its alloys have good biocompatibility with the human body, as well as antiseptic properties [1,3].…”