Synthesis, mechanical properties and corrosion behavior of powder metallurgy processed Fe/Mg2Si composites for biodegradable implant applications

- A powder metallurgy pure Fe with ~ 20% elongation and UTS = 400 MPa was produced.
- Mg2Si particle addition to the Fe matrix increased material UTS up to 650 MPa.
- Mg2Si addition increased the potentiodynamic degradation rate up to ~ 0.30 mm/year.
- Fe/Mg2Si composite static degradation rate varied in the range 0,14-0,28 mm/year.
- The degradation pattern is strongly affected by initial powder preparation method.

Recently, Fe and Fe-based alloys have shown their potential as degradable materials for biomedical applications. Nevertheless, the slow corrosion rate limits their performance in certain situations. The shift to iron matrix composites represents a possible approach, not only to improve the mechanical properties, but also to accelerate and tune the corrosion rate in a physiological environment.In this work, Fe-based composites reinforced by Mg2Si particles were proposed. The initial powders were prepared by different combinations of mixing and milling processes, and finally consolidated by hot rolling. The influence of the microstructure on mechanical properties and corrosion behavior of Fe/Mg2Si was investigated. Scanning electron microscopy and X-ray diffraction were used for the assessment of the composite structure. Tensile and hardness tests were performed to characterize the mechanical properties. Potentiodynamic and static corrosion tests were carried out to investigate the corrosion behavior in a pseudo-physiological environment. Samples with smaller Mg2Si particles showed a more homogenous distribution of the reinforcement. Yield and ultimate tensile strength increased when compared to those of pure Fe (from 400 MPa and 416 MPa to 523 MPa and 630 MPa, respectively). Electrochemical measurements and immersion tests indicated that the addition of Mg2Si could increase the corrosion rate of Fe even twice (from 0.14 to 0.28 mm·year− 1). It was found that the preparation method of the initial composite powders played a major role in the corrosion process as well as in the corrosion mechanism of the final composite.