Evaluation of MgZnCa Alloys Fabricated Via Powder Metallurgy for Manufacturing Biodegradable Surgical Implants

Biodegradable implants fabricated through powder metallurgy are not commonly observed but can be a good way to manufacture different alloys, reducing fabrication costs due to the net-shaped achievement. In this study, two different MgZnCa alloys, M1 (Mg5Zn1Ca) and M2 (Mg29Zn2Ca), processed by powder metallurgy, were investigated for their mechanical properties and corrosion resistance in a simulated blood fluid to check their viability as biodegradable devices. Complementary optical and scanning electron microscopy were also carried out to interpret the fabricated alloys microstructure characteristics. The M2 sample was found to be potentially usable as a biodegradable implant due to its results on mechanical resistance, hydrogenous dissolution, and corrosion reduction in comparison with the M1 sample, being adherent with other as-cast Mg alloys. Moreover, the degradation rate of the M2 alloy was found to be approximately 1mg cm-2 day-1 which is similar to other Mg-based alloys currently being used.