Ti–6Al–4V with micro- and macropores produced by powder sintering and electrochemical dissolution of steel wires

Ti–6Al–4V powder preforms containing parallel layers of steel wire meshes are sintered into composites. Elongated macropores are created by electrochemical dissolution of the steel wires, and equiaxed micropores by partial powder densification. The macropore diameter and fraction is tailored by the creation of a Fe-containing diffusion zone in the Ti–6Al–4V matrix, which is removed electrochemically together with the wires. Ti–6Al–4V with 21–41% porosity shows compressive stiffness and strength attractive for biomedical implants.