The current medical technology necessitates the usage of biodegradable metals like Magnesium (Mg) as the future implant material due to the numerous benefits it can provide. Therefore, new Magnesium-based rare earth alloys targeting biomedical applications were synthesized using Disintegrated Melt Deposition (DMD) technique followed by hot-extrusion. In this investigation, Zinc (Zn) and Erbium (Er) were chosen as alloying elements to provide suitable strengthening effect and Mg-2Zn, Mg-2Zn-2Er alloys were synthesized. With the addition of alloying elements, the grain size was reduced and several MgZn intermetallics were formed. Corrosion studies of as-extruded materials were done in 0.5 wt.% NaCl solution to elucidate the microstructure-corrosion relationship. Improved corrosion resistance is seen in the alloys in comparison to pure Magnesium. Addition of Erbium is seen to improve the protectiveness of the surface film formed during immersion. Both these elements have proven to increase the corrosion potential of Mg in NaCl solution.
Comparative mechanical and corrosion studies on magnesium, zinc and iron alloys as biodegradable metals