Properties of the Ti Void Metal Composites Prepared with Saccharose as a Space Holder and Coated by Hydroxyapatite

Abstract

In this paper hydroxyapatite biomimetic deposition on Ti void metal composites (Ti-VMC) have been shown. The Ti-VMC were prepared using saccharose (sugar crystals) as a space holder material that forms voids around the Ti scaffold. The Ti (100 and 325 mesh) with sugar (about 0.7−0.9 mm) particles were mixed together with different Ti/sugar ratio and uniaxially pressed. Then the sugar particles were dissolved in water, leaving mechanically bonded Ti particles, forming a metal scaffold. The titanium scaffolds were sintered at 1300°C, which lead to formation the Ti-VMC with voids of diameter of up to 0.9 mm. Because different Ti/saccharose ratio was applied, the Ti-VMC have been made with 50, 60 and 70% porosity. On the as-prepared Ti-VMC the hydroxyapatite (HA) was deposited using mineralisation procedure in Kokubo SBF (simulated body fluid). The Ti-VMC were kept in SBF for time from 7 up to 28 days. Finally the scaffolds were covered by layer of HA showing good corrosion resistance. The mechanical tests show, that most optimal property for implant applications have samples of 50% porosity, made from 100 mesh Ti. The scaffold of 50% porosity states a good background for implant applications.