H. Li, Y. Gao, B. Yuan, M. Zhu, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou, China; J. C. Y. Chung, City University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, Hong Kong
Porous NiTi shape memory alloys (SMAs) with continous gradient porosity have been successfully fabricated by low pressure sintering (LPS) for the first time. The continuous gradient porosity structure from big pore to small pore was obtained by controlling the combination original Ni and Ti powders and filling them into mold. The compression tests have shown that mechanical properties of porous NiTi SMAs with continuous gradient porosity were much superior than the one with step gradient porosity. The present preliminary results show that the pore structure NiTi SMAs with continuous gradient porosity are similar to that of human bones and its mechanical properties are higher than that of human bone.
Summary: This paper presents one new method to fabricate porous NiTi shape memory alloys with continous gradient porosity, which is similar to the pore structure of human bone.
