Microstructure, mechanical properties and bio-corrosion properties of Mg-Si(-Ca, Zn) alloy for biomedical application

Mg-Si alloy was investigated for biomedical application due to the biological function of Si in the human body. However, Mg-Si alloy showed a low ductility due to the presence of coarse Mg(2)Si. Ca and Zn elements were used to refine and modify the morphology of Mg(2)Si in order to improve the corrosion resistance and the mechanical properties. The cell toxicity of Mg, Zn and Ca metals was assessed by an MTT test. The test results indicated that increasing the concentrations of Mg, Zn and Ca ions did not cause cell toxicity, which showed that the release of these three elements would not lead to cell toxicity. Then, microstructure, mechanical properties and bio-corrosion properties of as-cast Mg-Si(-Ca, Zn) alloys were investigated by optical microscopy, scanning electronic microscopy, mechanical properties testing and electrochemical measurement. Ca element can slightly refine the grain size and the morphology Mg(2)Si phase in Mg-Si alloy. The bio-corrosion resistance of Mg-Si alloys was improved by the addition of Ca due to the reduction and refinement of Mg(2)Si phase; however, no improvement was observed in the strength and elongation. The addition of 1.6% Zn to Mg-0.6Si can modify obviously the morphology of Mg(2)Si phase from course eutectic structure to a small dot or short bar shape. As a result, tensile strength, elongation and bio-corrosion resistance were all improved significantly; especially, the elongation improved by 115.7%. It was concluded that Zn element was one of the best alloying elements of Mg-Si alloy for biomedical application.