A hierarchical scaffold: natural growth of three-dimensional nanowire bundles from microporous Ta

Abstract

The relatively high melting temperature and the inability to process Ta structures via conventional processing routes have limited the acceptance of tantalum, in spite of its excellent biocompatibility. Here we report, for the first time, a method of processing Ta to create porous structures consisting of self-assembled nanowire bundles from three-dimensional (3D) microporous Ta scaffolds via facile high temperature heat treatment. Porous Ta samples have been characterized for their mechanical properties. The results show that the Young's modulus of porous Ta can be tailored between 0.06 and 1.69 GPa by changing the heat treatment temperature between 2200 °C and 2400 °C. These porous Ta structures resemble cancellous bone structures on the micro/macroscale. This remarkably simple process can be employed as an enabling technique for applications in nanotechnology and biotechnology.