Abstract
The process of preparing porous metal foam titanium powder has been developed In this process, polystyrene foam powder is used as a space holder, and a water solution of polymer is used as a binder. The slurry of the titanium powder, space holder and binder is added to the gelatinizing agent to increase its viscosity. It can then be formed by hand like clay. The slurry is dried, sintered and porous titanium is obtained. The binder and space holder are decomposed in a heating process before sintering. Using this process, porous titanium with porosity in the range of 17-77% is produced, and the mechanical properties are evaluated. From these results, porous titanium that has a porosity of 50 to 60% has a strength of about 30-100 MPa and Young's modulus about 10-30GPa. These mechanical properties arc appropriate for use as implant bone.
