Production of porous Ti5Al2.5Fe alloy via pressureless spark plasma sintering

Abstract Porous Ti5Al2.5Fe alloy was successfully fabricated using the spark plasma sintering technique. Experiments were performed within a temperature range of between 750 and 850 °C. The microstructure, compression and biocompatibility properties of the porous samples were investigated. Sintered samples were immersed for different times in a simulated body fluid with elemental concentrations comparable to those of human blood plasma. Porous sample was also implanted in fibroblast culture for biocompatibility evaluation. The compressive strength of the porous samples was found to be mainly dependent on sintering temperature, and the porous compacts exhibiting good biocompatibility properties.