POROUS METAL COATING PROCESS AND MOLD THEREFOR

摘要

POROUS METAL COATING PROCESS AND MOLD THEREFOR A process and mold for applying a porous metal coating to a metal substrate or a portion thereof especially for forming a medical prosthesis. The substrate to be coated is cleaned then positioned in a rigid mold of ceramic or metal material having a defined mold cavity. The space between the mold cavity surface and the substrate is filled with a metal powder and the mold powder and substrate assembly is pre-sintered. The pre-sinter conditions are selected such that the powder lightly sinters together and adheres to the substrate but not to the mold cavity surface. After removal of the mold the coated substrate is further sintered to obtain the proper desired bond strength and pore volume. Sintering is carried out in n protective atmosphere.