Spherical Ti-6Al-4V powders in the size range of 250 and 300 µm were uniformly doped with nano-sized hydroxyapatite (HAp) powders by Spex milling process. A single pulse of 0.75-2.0 kJ/0.7 g of the Ti-6Al-4V powders doped with HAp from 300 mF capacitor was applied to produce fully porous and porous-surfaced Ti-6Al-4V implant compact by electro-discharge-sintering (EDS). The solid core was automatically formed in the center of the compact after discharge and porous layer consisted of particles connected in three dimensions by necks. The solid core increased with an increase in input energy. The compressive yield strength was in a range of 41 to 215 MPa and significantly depended on input energy. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and energy dispersive x-ray spectrometer were used to investigate the surface characteristics of the Ti-6Al-4V compact. Ti and O were the main constituents, with smaller amount of Ca and P. It was thus concluded that the porous-surfaced Ti-6Al-4V implant compacts doped with HAp can be efficiently produced by manipulating the milling and electro-discharge-sintering processes.

The multi-direction firing of the optical fiber has been required to induce wider damage zone during the laser-assisted surgery. The optical fibers tend to have poor machinability because of its hardness and brittleness. In this study, we employed the ECDM to fabricate the tip of the optical fiber in cone-shape. The con-shaped tip made the multidirectional emission of the light at the distal end of the fiber. The result showed that the lower electrolyte concentration enhanced the surface quality. The optimal concentration of electrolyte was 15% to make high quality surface of optical fiber tip in this experimental condition. When the voltage was more lower, surface quality had been become better. The suitable voltage was 30V for the effective process time.

Electro-Discharge Sintering (EDS) employs a high-voltage/high-current-density pulse of electrical energy, discharged from a capacitor bank, to instantaneously consolidate powders. In the present study, a single pulse of 0.57-1.1 kJ/0.45 g-atomized spherical powders in size range of 10~30 and consisting of -(Ti, Zr) and icosahedral phases were applied to examine the structural evolution of icosahedral phase during EDS. Structural investigation reveals that high electrical input energy facilitates complete decomposition of icosahedral phase into C14 laves and -(Ti, Zr) phases. Moreover, critical input energy inducing decomposition of the icosahedral phase during EDS depends on the size of the powder. Porous Ti and W compacts have been fabricated by EDS using rectangular and spherical powders upon various input energy at a constant capacitance of in order to verify influence of powder shape on microstructure of porous compacts. Besides, generated heat () during EDS, which is measured by an oscilloscope, is closely correlated with powder size.

The synthesis and consolidation of titanium silicide by electro-discharge-sintering has been investigated. As-received Ti powder was in flaky shape and the mean particle size was , whereas the mean particle size of the pre-milled Si powder with angular shape was . Single pulse of 2.5 to 5.0 kJ/0.34g-elemental Ti and pre-milled Si powder mixture with the composition of Si was applied using capacitor. The solid with phase has been successfully fabricated by the discharge with the input energy more than 2.5kJ in less than Hv values were found to be higher than . The formation of occurred through a fast solid state diffusion reaction.

Porous and porous surfaced Ti-6Al-4V implant compacts were fabricated by electro-discharge-sintering (EDS) of atomized spherical Ti-6Al-4V powders with a diameter of , The solid core formed in the center of the compact after discharge was composed of acicular Widmanstatten grains, The hardness value at the solid core was much higher than that at the particle interface or particles in the porous layer, which can be attributed to both heat treatment and work hardening effects induced from EDS, The compressive yield strength was in a range of 19 to 436 MPa which significantly depends on both input energy and capacitance, Selected porous-surfaced Ti-6Al-4V implant compacts with a solid core have much higher compressive strengths compared to the human teeth and sintered Ti dental implants.

Implant prototypes with various porosities were fabricated by electro-discharge-sintering of atomized spherical Ti-6Al-4V powders. Single pulse of 0.75 to 2.0 kJ/0.7 g-powder, using 150, 300, and capacitors was applied to produce a fully porous and porous surfaced implant compact. The solid core formed in the center of the compact after discharge was composed of acicular grains and porous layer consisted of particles connected in three dimensions by necks. The solid core and neck sizes increased with an increase in input energy and capacitance. On the other hand, pore volume decreased with increased capacitance and input energy due to the formation of solid core. Capacitance and input energy are the only controllable discharge parameters even though the heat generated during a discharge is the unique parameter that determines the porosity of compact. It is known that electro-discharge-sintering of spherical Ti-6Al-4V powders can efficiently produce fully-porous and porous surfaced Ti-6Al-4V implants with various porosities in a short time less then 400 isec by manipulating the discharging condition such as input energy and capacitance including powder size.