Porous NiTi was produced by sintering pre-alloyed NiTi powders (with small Ni addition to form Ni-rich composition) with NaCl powders which are removed to create 40-60 vol.% macropores which are open to the surface, blocky in shape, and 100-400 μm in size. The microporosity present between the NiTi powders is infiltrated by an in situ created NiTi-Nb eutectic liquid which, after solidification, densifies the NiTi powders into dense struts. This processing technique allows for separate control of the macroporous structure, and the densification and composition of the NiTi struts.
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