Producing zones of enhanced passivation on the surface of a biodegradable magnesium alloy

Abstract

Biodegradable magnesium alloys are one of the most promising materials for the manufacturing self-dissolving surgical implants such as screws and plates for osteosynthesis. In a previous study it was shown that secondary phase particles and impurity inclusions can contribute to the formation of enhanced passivation areas around them. The present study examines the possibility of creating artificial enhanced passivation areas to protect the most critical surfaces of magnesium surgical devices. It is shown that the introduction of silver, bismuth and copper particles into the surface of the ZX10 alloy provides the desired effect of passivation. Introducing iron particles into the matrix material results in accelerated local dissolution and deep pit formation at the indentation site. The introduction of zinc particles exerts virtually no effecton corrosion processes.