Mechanical Properties and Corrosion Behavior of Porous Zn Alloy as Biodegradable Materials

doi:10.1007/s40195-024-01808-8

Abstract

Abstract:

The complex stresses experienced by medical-grade porous metals in the physiological environment following implantation as bone repair materials necessitate a comprehensive understanding of their mechanical behavior. This paper investigates the effects of pore structure and matrix composition on the corrosion behavior and mechanical properties of pure Zn. Porous Zn alloys with varying pore sizes were prepared via vacuum infiltration casting. The results showed that addition of Mg elements and an increase in pore size were observed to enhance the strength and elastic modulus of the porous Zn alloy (41.34 ± 0.113 MPa and 0.58 ± 0.02 GPa of the C-Z3AM). However, corrosion tests indicated that specimens with smaller pores and the addition of Mg elements exhibited accelerated corrosion of porous Zn alloys in Hank’s solution. Electrochemical test results show the corrosion resistance rank in order of C-Z5A > C-Z3AM > N-Z5A > N-Z3AM. Additionally, the mechanical retention of porous Zn alloys in simulated body fluids was found to be significantly reduced by the incorporation of Mg elements and smaller pore sizes, the yield strength declines rates of C-Z5A, C-Z3AM and N-Z3AM after 30 days of immersion were 16.7%, 63.7% and 78.2%, respectively. The objective is to establish the role of the material-structure-corrosion-mechanics relationship, which can provide a theoretical and experimental basis for the design and evaluation of Zn and its alloy implanted devices.

Key words: Vacuum infiltration casting, Zinc alloys, Biodegradable, Mechanical properties, Porous scaffolds

Xiaotong Lu, Pingyun Yuan, Zhengquan Wang, Xiaocheng Li, Hanyuan Liu, Wenhao Zhou, Kun Sun, Yongliang Mu. Mechanical Properties and Corrosion Behavior of Porous Zn Alloy as Biodegradable Materials[J]. Acta Metallurgica Sinica (English Letters), 2025, 38(3): 367-382.

Figures/Tables 13

Fig. 1 Microscopic morphologies of two kinds of space holder: a CaCl2, b NaCl

Fig. 2 Schematic diagram of fabrication procedure for Zn-based scaffolds

Table 1 Data of two different pore size zinc scaffolds

Samples	Size (mm)	Weight (g)	Density (g cm⁻³)	Porosity (%)
C-Z5A	φ10 × 8	1.41	2.25	69
N-Z5A	φ10 × 8	0.98	1.56	79
C-Z3AM	φ10 × 8	1.52	2.42	67
N-Z3AM	φ10 × 8	1.02	1.62	77

Fig. 3 Pore structure analysis of porous Zn alloys: a, b pore size distribution of C-Z5A and N-Z5A, c, e reconstructed 3D models of C-Z5A and N-Z5A, while d, f pore strut and cross section for the scaffold in c, e

Fig. 4 Microstructure and EDS analysis of samples a C-Z5A OM morphology, b N-Z5A OM morphology, c C-Z5A SEM morphology and EDS, d C-Z3AM OM morphology, e N-Z3AM OM morphology, f C-Z3AM SEM morphology and EDS

Fig. 5 Weight loss a, corrosion rate b of porous Zn alloys after immersion in Hank’s solution

Fig. 6 Microstructures and EDS analysis of porous Zn alloy after different immersion time: a 2 d, b 4 d, c 7 d, d 15 d, e 24 d, f 30 d of Z5A; g 2 d, h 4 d, i 7 d, j 15 d, k 24 d, l 30 d of Z3AM

Fig. 7 Microstructures and EDS analysis of porous Zn alloy without corrosion products after different immersion time: a 2 d, b 4 d, c 7 d, d 15 d, e 24 d, f 30 d of Z5A; g 2 d, h 4 d, i 7 d, j 15 d, k 24 d, l 30 d of Z3AM

Fig. 8 a Potentiodynamic polarization (PDP) curves, b Nyquist plots, c Bode plots of |Z| and phase angle vs. frequency, d corresponding electrical equivalent circuit diagrams (EEC), e CRPDP of C-Z5A, N-Z5A, C-Z3AM and N-Z3AM immersed in Hank’s solution. *P < 0.05

Table 2 Electrochemical data of C-Z5A, N-Z5A, C-Z3AM and N-Z3AM tested in Hank’s solution (Polarization curves data)

	E_corr (V)	i_corr (μA/cm²)	$\left\|{B}_{\text{a}}\right\|$ (V)	$\left\|{B}_{\text{c}}\right\|$ (V)	R_p (Ω)
C-Z5A	− 1.308	0.101	0.352	0.293	687.44
N-Z5A	− 1.361	0.238	0.879	0.239	342.28
C-Z3AM	− 1.352	0.118	0.633	0.234	622.79
N-Z3AM	− 1.389	0.261	0.314	0.225	217.91

Table 3 Electrochemical data of C-Z5A, N-Z5A, C-Z3AM and N-Z3AM tested in Hank’s solution (Electrochemical impedance data)

	R_s	Q_cY₀ (Ω⁻¹ cm⁻² sⁿ) n_c		R_f	Q_dlY₀ (Ω⁻¹ cm⁻² sⁿ) n_dl		R_ct
C-Z5A	5.83	1.84 × 10^-5	0.696	556	2.76 × 10^-3	0.846	443
N-Z5A	5.47	3.18 × 10^-5	0.630	370	1.15 × 10^-3	0.758	290
C-Z3AM	5.49	8.12 × 10^-5	0.535	457	3.46 × 10^-3	0.805	453
N-Z3AM	4.06	9.19 × 10^-5	0.542	232	1.63 × 10^-3	0.164	263

Fig. 9 Compression stress-strain curves of porous Zn alloy before immersion test

Fig. 10 Mechanical properties of porous zinc after 30 days of immersion: a stress-strain curve; b mechanical property decay rate. *P < 0.05

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