Effect of Nitrogen on Mechanical Properties of Porous Titanium Compacts Prepared by Powder Sintering

Nitrogen-doped and -undoped Ti powders were obtained by Plasma Rotating Electrode Process (PREP) in an Ar atmosphere using Ar-2 vol.%N2 and pure Ar, respectively, for plasma flame. Auger electron spectroscopy (AES) revealed that nitrogen is enriched at the surface of nitrogen-doped Ti powder and decreases along with the depth direction. Microstructure of a compact prepared by hot pressing the nitrogen-doped Ti powder shows a shell structure. The outer area is considered to form by the diffusion of nitrogen. This microstructure disappears after annealing at 1373 K for 3.6 ks. It is found that the compressive yield strength of porous Ti compacts can be improved by introducing nitrogen in Ti powder and is superior to that of human cortical bone.