Comparing Different Porosity Measurement Methods for Characterisation of 3D Printed Bone Replacement Scaffolds

Porosity is a key feature of synthetic bone grafts. A high open porosity in a size range between 100 and 500 µm is important for vascularization whereas high microporosity of the material itself may support osteoconductivity. Miscellaneous analytical methods for porosity determination of 3D-printed ceramic bone substitutes were tested and compared. A main focus was the evaluation of the usability of X-ray micro Computer Tomography (µCT) as a non destructive analytical tool for porosity determination.