Use of Metal Foam Materials as Biomaterials

Metal foams are light cellular materials that are a natural inspiration. Wood, bone and sea sponges are some wellknown examples of such structures. Metallic foams offer excellent mechanical response combination with lightness, good thermal and sound insulation. These qualities make them ideal candidates for various applications. In biomedical engineering, metal foams can be used for biodegradable orthopedic implants such as bone skeletons. For orthopedic applications, biocompatible materials such as high porosity metal, tantalum, magnesium and alloys, titanium and alloys and iron foam are used. The physical and mechanical properties of a metal foam depend directly on its cellular structure, which has its structural properties. Metal foam applications can be grouped structurally and functionally and are based on several excellent properties of the material. Structural applications utilize the light and specific mechanical properties of metal foams. Functional applications, on the other hand, are based on a wide range of applications with a particular functionality, i.e. very good thermal or electrical conductivity for heat dissipation or use as electrodes for the battery. The history of metal foams dates back to 1940s. The first experiments were made on aluminum foams. Metal foams are produced as open cells and closed cells. Depending on the production method, the foam structure is more or less homogeneous and includes different characteristics that determine their properties and therefore their application area. Until now, melt foaming method, gas injection method, powder metallurgy method and infiltration casting method which both closed cell and open cell aluminum foams can be manufactured are used. Open-cell and closed-cell metal foams are reinforced with different reinforcements to improve the mechanical properties of the metallic matrix. Thus, the reinforcing member strengthens the structure of cell edges and cell walls to provide high strength and durability. In this work, information about metal foams used as biomaterials is given.