Abstract:

Porous sintered Ti–Ag compacts with different Ag content were fabricated by powder metallurgy. The associated hydrothermal treatment and the effect on the apatite formation were studied. The results suggested that TiO was generated under the condition of low vacuum (1 × 10⁻² Pa) during the process of burning out the spacer-holding particles. After hydrothermal treatment, a sub-microscale porous layer was formed at the pore wall surface of the samples. The apatite-inducing ability of hydrothermal treated porous sintered Ti–Ag compacts with different Ag content was evaluated in modified simulated body fluid (SBF). And the results proved that there is a clear correlation between the apatite-inducing ability and Ag content. The higher Ag content in porous leads to the decrease of Na⁺ ions and basic hydroxyl (OH)_b amount, resulting in the decline of apatite-inducing ability in the first stage. However, their apatite-inducing ability was not significantly different from that of Ti after two weeks SBF immersing. Hence, the ionic activity should restore with the processing of SBF soaking, as the saturation of Ag effect.

Key words: Porous sintered TieAg compacts, Ag content, Hydrothermal treatment, Apatite-inducing ability