Development of Highly Functional Structure with 3D Metal Additive Manufacturing

Proposal of Creation Method of Graded Functional Structure and its Mechanical Properties

Abstract

In this study, we proposed a graded structure with conical holes to reduce the stress shielding effect generated between a metal implant and a living bone. The designed structure was fabricated by 3D metal additive manufacturing. Then, the correlation between the arrangement of holes and the reproducibility of shape or the mechanical properties was verified. As a result of observation with a scanning electron microscope and the three point bending test, it was found that as the porosity increased, the reproducibility of shape deteriorated and the elastic modulus and the maximum bending stress decreased.