Fully Porous and Porous Surfaced Ti-6Al-4V Implants Fabricated by Electro-Discharge-Sintering: (1) Fabrication Method and Fundamental Characteristics

Implant prototypes with various porosities were fabricated by electro-discharge-sintering of atomized spherical Ti-6Al-4V powders. Single pulse of 0.75 to 2.0 kJ/0.7 g-powder, using 150, 300, and $450{\mu}F$ capacitors was applied to produce a fully porous and porous surfaced implant compact. The solid core formed in the center of the compact after discharge was composed of acicular ${\alpha}+{\beta}$ grains and porous layer consisted of particles connected in three dimensions by necks. The solid core and neck sizes increased with an increase in input energy and capacitance. On the other hand, pore volume decreased with increased capacitance and input energy due to the formation of solid core. Capacitance and input energy are the only controllable discharge parameters even though the heat generated during a discharge is the unique parameter that determines the porosity of compact. It is known that electro-discharge-sintering of spherical Ti-6Al-4V powders can efficiently produce fully-porous and porous surfaced Ti-6Al-4V implants with various porosities in a short time less then 400 isec by manipulating the discharging condition such as input energy and capacitance including powder size.

전기방전소결에 의해 제조된 다공성 및 다공성 표면을 갖는 Ti-6Al-4V 임플란트 : (1) 제조방법 및 기본적 특성