Dynamic freeze casting for the production of porous titanium (Ti) scaffolds

This paper proposes dynamic freeze casting as a new manufacturing technique for producing porous Ti scaffolds with a uniform porous structure and good ductility. In this method, Ti/camphene slurries with various initial Ti contents (15, 20, and 25vol.%) were frozen at 44°C for 12h in rotation, which allowed for the extensive growth of camphene crystals and the uniform construction of walls made of Ti particles. All the fabricated samples showed spherical-like pores surrounded by dense Ti walls that were uniformly formed after sintering at 1300°C for 2h in a vacuum. The porosity decreased from 71 to 52vol.% with an increase in Ti content from 15 to 25vol.%, whereas the pore size decreased from 362 to 95μm. On the other hand, the compressive strength and stiffness increased considerably from 57±4 to 183±6MPa and from 1.3±0.5 to 5.0±0.8GPa, respectively, due to the decrease in the porosity of the samples. ► Porous Ti scaffolds were fabricated through “dynamic freeze casting” technique. ► Ti/camphene slurries were frozen during rotation. ► Large and uniform pores were formed during freezing. ► Highly porous Ti scaffolds for bone regeneration were fabricated