Self-assembled microporous Ti-6Al-4V implant compacts induced by electro-discharge-sintering

A single pulse of 0.75–2.0 kJ/0.7 g atomized spherical Ti–6Al–4V powder using 150, 300 and 450 μF capacitors was applied in an Ar atmosphere. After discharge, the self-assembled solid core surrounded by a porous layer was composed of Widmanstatten α + β grains. By manipulating the discharge conditions such as input energy and capacitance, including powder size, porous-surfaced Ti–6Al–4V implant-typed compacts with various porosities can be produced in short times less than 200 μs without changing the unique microstructure.