Porous Metallic Biomaterials Processing (Review) Part 1: Compaction, Sintering Behavior, Properties and Medical Applications

Abstract Over the last few decades, researchers has been focused on the study of processing using different methods of new biocompatible and/or biodegradable materials such as permanent or temporary medical implants in reconstructive surgery. The advantages of obtaining biomedical implants by Powder Metallurgy (P/M) techniques are (i) obtaining the near-net-shaped with complex forms, (ii) making materials with controlled porosity or (iii) making mechanically resistant sintered metallic materials used as reinforcing elements for ceramic/polymeric biocompatible materials. In this first part of the 2-part review, the most used and newest metallic biomaterials obtained by P/M methods are presented, along with their compaction and sintering behavior and the properties of the porous biomaterials studied in correlation with the biomedical domain of application.