Fabrication of Open-Pore Biodegradable Magnesium Alloy Scaffold via Infiltration Technique

Abstract

A casting technology based on the infiltration method was used to fabricate a controllable porous Mg alloy structure. The porous structure was designed as a gyroid structure, which is one of the well-known triply periodic minimal surface structures. The model used as a placeholder was produced in a stereolithography apparatus and embedded in NaCl as a mold. In order to define the mechanical properties, sheep bone was cut to the same size as the gyroid structure and these were then analyzed under compression loads. The compression test results were compared with each other and with the Young’s moduli of human trabecular bone as stated in the literature. The results of the compression tests indicated that the Young’s modulus of the gyroid structure obtained from experimental data was in the range of the Young’s moduli of human trabecular bone but lower than the Young’s modulus of the sheep bone obtained from the experimental data. A finite element model of the gyroid structure was designed using the LS-Dyna module in ANSYS Workbench and validated with experimental test results. In addition, finite element analysis of the circular cross-sectional beam was also carried out and compared with the gyroid structure in order to evaluate the deformation and fractures.