Fabrication and mechanical properties of porous titanium alloy implants using electron beam melting process
Purpose The purpose of this paper is to verify the feasibility and evaluate the mechanical properties of porous Ti6Al4V implants with various structures and porosities using electron beam melting (EBM) process. EBM process could be a promising method to fabricate orthopedic implant with suitable pore architecture and matched mechanical properties.Design/methodology/approach Porous Ti6Al4V implants were produced using an EBM machine.Scanning electron microscope was used to examine the macro pore structures of the Ti6Al4V implants.The compression test and three-point bending test were performed to investigate the mechanical properties of the porous implants.Findings The fabricated implants showed a fully interconnected pore network. The compressive strength and three-point bending strength of the porous Ti6Al4V implants with the porosities range from 50% to 65% are close to those of human cortical bone. The Youngs modulus of the implants is lower than that of cortical bone.Research limitations/implications -The surface of the samples produced by EBM process was covered with loosely bound spherical metal particles. Polishing and ultrasonic cleaning have to be used to remove the loosely remnants.Originality/value This study presents the potential application in the fabrication of orthopedic or dental implants using EBM process.
Rapid prototypes Electron beam melting Ti6Al4V Mechanical properties
Xiang Li Chengtao Wang Wenguang Zhang
School of Mechanical Engineering, Shanghai Jiaotong University, Shanghai, 200240, China
国际会议
北京
英文
4-9
2008-11-06（万方平台首次上网日期，不代表论文的发表时间）