Application of carbamide as foaming agent of FE-MN-C alloy for degradable biomaterial candidate with powder metallurgy process

The foam-structured metal has many advantages as a bone implants such as low density, lightweight and adequate surface roughness for cell attachment. An agent is often required to make porosity in the faam structured material, it called as a foaming agent. Carbonate powder usually uses because it can quickly decompose into a gas that forms a porosity. However, the final product is an irregular porosity which reduces the mechanical properties of materials. This study proposes carbamide as a foaming agent by the method of Sintering and Dissolution Process (SDP). This study was conducted by adding 5% and 10% weight percent of carbamide to Fe-35Mn-0,5C in an argon atmosphere in temperature 1100°C. Addition more content of carbamide resulted in lowering density to 3.73 gr/cm³ and porosity about 52%. It produces spherical porosity with size within the range of carbamide diameter (1 mm). Phases of 5% and 10% carbamide samples are Austenite, Ferrite, and MnO₂. The carbamide is also completely removed from the final product which safe for the toxicity issue.