Processing of Ti50Nb50−xHAx composites by rapid microwave sintering technique for biomedical applications

The main objective of this research is to fabricate porous mechanical-tuned (low elastic modulus and high strength) Ti-based composites with improved bioactivity for orthopaedic applications. Another objective is to demonstrate the potential of microwave sintering and temporary space alloying technique to synthesize porous Ti-based composites. In this study, porous Ti50Nb50−xHAx (x = 0, 10 and 20) composite was fabricated for orthopaedic applications using a powder metallurgical and rapid microwave sintering (PM-RMS) process. Effects of key PM-RMS parameters on the structural porosity, compressive strength, and elastic modulus of built composite were then analysed. The microstructure, pore characteristics, and mechanical properties were investigated in detail. Using high hydroxyapatite (HA) content (20%), short sintering time (5 min), and high compacting pressure (200 MPa) appears to be the best condition among those studied in terms of yielding a high degree of structural porosity (21%) and low elastic modulus (25 GPa) in the sintered composite. Since size of pores in the synthesized composite is in the range of 20–30 μm, structural porosity not only reduces elastic modulus but also enhances bio-activity of sintered composite. The combination of highly porous structure, low elastic modulus, high compressive strength, improved corrosion resistance, and enhanced bioactivity makes porous Ti-Nb-HA composites fabricated by microwave sintering process potential and promising candidates for orthopedic applications.