Ti-13Nb-13Zr Foams for Surgical Implants

The use of titanium and its alloy as biomaterial is increasing due to their low modulus, superior biocompatibility and enhanced corrosion resistance when compared to more conventional stainless steel and cobalt-based alloys. Ti-13Nb-13Zr is a titanium alloy specifically developed for surgical implants. In this work, highly porous titanium foams, with porosities above from 50%, are reached using an efficient powder metallurgical process, which includes the introduction of a selected spacer into the starting powders. Samples were produced by mixing of initial metallic powders followed by uniaxial and cold isostatic pressing with subsequent densification by sintering. The samples presented a Widmanstättenlike microstructure in an open cellular morphology with pore size between 200-500 μm.