High-porosity titanium foams by powder coated space holder compaction method

Titanium foams were manufactured by compacting spherical carbamide granules (as space holder) coated with titanium powder, leaching the space holder and sintering. A simple method was used to prepare composite (i.e. coated carbamide) granules. Foams with porosities in the range of 65-85% were prepared, which exhibited improved mechanical properties compared to titanium foams prepared by compacting simple mixtures of powder and space holder. The property improvements in the present material are attributed to achievement of more regular pore structure in the foams. (C) 2012 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.