Ultrahigh-strength titanium gyroid scaffolds manufactured by selective laser melting (SLM) for bone implant applications

Abstract

Commercially pure titanium (CP–Ti) gyroid scaffolds with interconnected pores and high porosities in the range of 68–73% and three different unit cell sizes of 2, 2.5, and 3 mm were manufactured by selective laser melting (SLM) for bone implant applications. The microstructure and mechanical properties of the scaffolds with different unit cell sizes and sample orientations were evaluated. The microstructure of as-built struts was dominated by massive martensite and the average microhardness of the struts was 2.27 GPa, which is ∼50% higher than that of dense cast CP–Ti. The elastic modulus and yield strength of the as-built scaffolds ranged from 1465 to 2676 MPa and from 44.9 to 56.5 MPa, respectively, values which are close to the elastic modulus of trabecular bone and presumably strong enough to bear the physiological loading of implants. The as-built scaffolds exhibited excellent ductility up to 50% strain and no sign of fracture up to 20–30% strain under compression. The dominant compressive response of the scaffolds was observed by formation of a plastic hinge which led to rotation of the struts about the plastic hinges followed by development of local shear bands in struts in the long plateau region. These SLM-manufactured gyroid CP–Ti scaffolds with significantly enhanced hardness and compressive strength exhibited an elastic modulus close to that of trabecular bone and offer a promising improvement on CP–Ti scaffolds for bone implant applications.