| dc.description.abstract | The authors have conducted a preliminary investigation with regard to the potential to manufacture porous titanium alloys for biomedical applications using toxic-free elemental powders, i.e., Ti, Nb, Ta, Zr, in combination with the pressurised gas bubble entrapment method and in contrast to standard processing routes that generally utilise prealloyed powder containing potentially toxic elements. Elemental powder compacts were either hot isostatic pressed (HIP-ed) at 1000 C and then foamed at 1150oC or else HIP-ed at 1100oC and foamed at 1350oC. Porous a - b alloys containing up to 45 vol% of porosity in the size range 20–200 um were successfully produced, thus highlighting the potential of this manufacturing route. It was expected that further optimisation of the processing route would allow full development of the preferred b-Ti phase (from the point of view of elastic modulus compatibility between implant and bone) with this being the subject of future work by the authors. | en_US |
