Fabrication and corrosion behavior of HA/Mg-Zn biocomposites

Abstract

The thermal-treated hydroxyapatite (HA) particles, Mg and Zn powders were used to prepare the HA/Mg-Zn composites with different HA contents by means of powder metallurgy technology. The microstructures, formation phases, and corrosion behaviors in simulated body fluid (SBF) were studied in comparison with pure magnesium and HA/Mg composites fabricated by the same preparation technology. As a result, no evident reaction happened between HA particles and Mg matrix during sintering process, and Zn atoms diffused into Mg matrix to form a single phase Mg-Zn alloy matrix. The addition of HA particles changed the corrosion mechanism of Mg matrix. During the corrosion process, HA particles would adsorb and Ca²⁺ ions efficiently and induce the deposition of Ca-P compounds on the surface of composites. HA could improve the corrosion resistance of magnesium matrix composites in SBF and restrain the increase of pH of SBF. Furthermore, the addition of Zn was favorable to improve the corrosion resistance of HA/Mg composites due to the densification of composites and the formation of Mg-Zn alloy matrix.

Keywords

composites / hydroxyapatite (HA) / Mg-Zn alloy / fabrication / corrosion behavior