Fabrication of titanium scaffolds with porosity and pore size gradients by sequential freeze casting

Abstract

This paper reports a novel method for producing porous Ti scaffolds with a gradient in porosity and pore size using the freeze casting method, in which TiH2/camphene slurries with various TiH2 contents (40, 25, and 10 vol.%) were cast sequentially into a mold, followed by freeze drying and heat-treatment in a vacuum at 1300 degrees C for 3 h. This simple sequential freeze casting method produced good bonding between the layers with different porosities of 35, 53, and 75 vol.% obtained using the TiH2 contents of 40, 25 and 10 vol.%, respectively. In addition, the pore size Could be increased significantly by increasing the freezing time. The pore sizes obtained in the regions produced using 40, 25, and 10 vol.% TiH2 after freezing for 7 days were 96, 166, and 270 mu m, respectively. (C) 2009 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.