Fabrication of porous NiTi-shape memory alloy objects by partially hydrided titanium powder for biomedical applications

Porous NiTi-shape memory alloy (SMA) is a promising biomaterial with desirable mechanical property and appropriate biocompatibility for human implant manufacturing. In this research, porous NiTi-SMAs have been successfully produced by using thermohydrogen process (THP). This process has capability of production of homogenous structures, appropriate pore-size distributions and short sintering times. The THP-SMA samples produced in this research have a low Young’s modulus (19.8 GPa) and a high tensile strength of 255 MPa. These properties are close to those of the natural bone and can meet the mechanical property demands of the hard-tissue implants for heavy load-bearing applications. The samples produced exhibit sufficient thermoelastic effect distinguished by a 1.2% mean recoverable strain.