An elemental powder sintering (EPS) technique has been developed for the synthesis of porous NiTi alloy, in which Ni and Ti powders are used as the reactants and TiH 2 powder is added as a pore-forming agent and active agent. Effects of various experimental parameters (sintering temperature, sintering time, and TiH 2 content) on the porosity, pore size and pore distribution as well as phase composition in experimental alloys are investigated. It is found that in order to avoid the formation of

more »

... arcinogenic pure Ni phase, the porous NiTi alloy should be synthesized over a temperature of 1223 K. This gives NiTi as the main phase without any elemental phase. Substitution of Ti by TiH 2 is more economic and more favorable to obtain homogeneous porous NiTi alloy. A proper selection of initial powders, ball-milling, pressing and sintering process makes it possible to achieve the porous NiTi alloy with desired properties.