Ca-Mg-Zn bulk metallic glasses as bioresorbable metals

A series of six unique Ca-based bulk metallic glasses were synthesized and characterized. The glasses were designed to consist solely of the biocompatible elements Ca, Mg and Zn, with the view to their potential use as bioresorbable metals for orthopaedic applications. The alloys had a critical casting thickness of up to 4.5 mm. Mechanical and thermophysical testing revealed a Young's modulus (stiffness) of ∼40 GPa. Glass transition temperatures ranged from 119 to 129°C, above which the alloys can be formed like a thermoplastic polymer. In vitro biocorrosion testing using a combination of polarization and mass loss techniques revealed that the corrosion rate of these alloys is relatively rapid, although, in some cases, it may be tailored through alloy composition.