Abstract:Porous Ti-Mg composites were successfully fabricated through powder metallurgy processing with ammonium hydrogen carbonate (NH₄HCO₃) as a space-holder. The effects of NH₄HCO₃ on properties of porous composites were comprehensively investigated. The pore characteristics and compressive properties of the specimens were characterized by X-ray diffractometry (XRD) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The results show that the porosity of the porous composites can be tailored effectively by changing the amount of NH₄HCO₃ added, and the use of NH₄HCO₃ has no influence on the microstructure and phase constituents of the Ti-10%Mg porous composites. The open porosity and compressive strength as well as compressive elastic modulus vary with the adding amount and particle size of NH₄HCO₃. When the mass fraction of NH₄HCO₃ added is 25%, elastic modulus and compressive strength of composites with porosity of around 50% are found to be similar to those of human bone.

Key words: Ti-Mg composite; NH₄HCO₃; powder metallurgy; porosity; compressive