Fabrication of porous titanium scaffolds with centrosymmetric pore channels and improved radial fracture loading

Abstract

Porous titanium scaffolds with centrosymmetric pore channels in the radial direction were fabricated by freeze-casting, and TiH2/H2O slurries with different TiH2 contents (20, 25, and 30 vol.%) were cast in a cylindrical metal mold. The cold sources at the bottom and side of the metal mold caused ice crystals to grow radially. The lamellar channels of the porous titanium scaffolds were arranged in centrosymmetric regular channels in the radial axis and afforded the higher radial fracture loading than that of porous titanium prepared by conventional unidirectional freezing. As load-bearing artificial implants, porous titanium scaffolds require high strength in other directions aside from the axial axis. The centrosymmetric regular pore channels can satisfy the clinical demands and improve the security in practical applications, particularly on organisms. The porous scaffold prepared by this method had no toxicity and had good biocompatibility.