Effect of Melt Spinning on Microstructure and Corrosion Uniformity of Zn-Ag-based Alloy

Zinc (Zn) alloys are widely studied as biodegradable materials for interventional medical applications. However, Zn alloys produced by traditional casting and extrusion methods exhibit uneven corrosion resistance due to the presence of large intermetallic particles and a coarse microstructure. In this study, we demonstrate that melt spinning significantly refines the microstructure and intermetallics, thereby enhancing the alloy's corrosion uniformity. The grain size distribution is reduced from 3-11 μm to 0.8-1.2 μm, with an increase in the proportion of recrystallized regions and a decrease in crystal preferential orientation. Additionally, we report a simultaneous decrease in both the volume fraction and the number density of $\epsilon$ -AgZn₃ nanoparticle precipitates after melt spinning. Mechanical testing reveals a yield strength of 396-408 MPa, an ultimate tensile strength of 410-420 MPa, and an elongation of approximately 16% for the melt-spun alloy. Additionally, this alloy demonstrates polarization resistance of 0.38 kΩ cm² in its melt-spun condition, and very uniform corrosion progression. This favorable corrosion performance is attributed to the formation of a dense, stable passive layer that provides effective protection. This layer forms through the interaction of oxide and corrosion products in Hank's solution.