RESUMEN
BACKGROUND:Preparation of titanium/hydroxyapatite composite by conventional methods has the deficiency of simple structure, low degree of automation and difficulty in porosity and pore size control, which limits the diverse process and manufacture. OBJECTIVE:To evaluate the feasibility of three-dimensional printing technology for the preparation of titanium/hydroxyapatite composite and titanium/hydroxyapatite functional y graded material molding. METHODS:A CAD model of titanium/hydroxyapatite composite was designed to be the cylinder (diameter 25 mm, height 20 mm), while the titanium/hydroxyapatite functional y graded implant designed as a CAD model of the cylinder with 25 mm in diameter asnd 10 mm in height with two layers, the upper layer with titanium powder and the lower layer with titanium/hydroxyapatite powder. The composite and functional y graded implant were processed by the three-dimensional printing and sintered. The sintered titanium/hydroxyapatite composite and titanium/hydroxyapatite functional y graded implant were observed for their microstructures, and the X-ray diffraction analysis and compressive strength testing were performed. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:The sintered titanium/hydroxyapatite composite and titanium/hydroxyapatite functional y graded implant had uniform contraction and no obvious distortion. The sintered titanium/hydroxyapatite composite had the aperture size from 50 to 150μm. There occurred a chemical reaction between titanium and hydroxyapatite during the sintering process, obtaining the new creations of Ca3(PO4)2, CaTiO3, TiO2 and CaO. Its compressive strength was (184.3±27.1) MPa. The microstructure of titanium/hydroxyapatite functional y graded implant had graded structures with a visible line between the two layers. The results of the microstructure and mechanical properties of titanium/hydroxyapatite composite and titanium/hydroxyapatite functional y graded implant can meet the requirements of medical biological implant materials.