Porous titanium implants fabricated by metal injection molding

Sodium chloride (NaCl) was added as a space holder in synthesis of porous titanium by using metal injection molding(MIM) method. The microstructure and mechanical properties of porous titanium were analyzed by mercury porosimeter, scanning electron microscope(SEM) and compression tester. The results show that the content of NaCl influences the porosity of porous titanium significantly. Porous titanium powders with porosity in the range of 42.4%–71.6% and pore size up to 300 μm were fabricated. The mechanical test shows that with increasing NaCl content, the compressive strength decreases from 316.6 to 17.5 MPa and the elastic modulus decreases from 3.03 to 0.28 GPa.