Bio-corrosion behavior of magnesium-fluorapatite nanocomposite for biomedical applications

Recent studies indicate that there is a high demand for designing magnesium alloys with adjustable corrosion rates and precipitation ability of bone-like apatite layer on the surface of magnesium alloys in body. An approach to this challenge might be the application of nanocomposites based on magnesium alloys. The aim of this work was fabrication and bio-corrosion evaluation of a nanocomposite that was made of magnesium alloy AZ91 as matrix and fluorapatite (FA) nano particles as reinforcement. Magnesium-fluorapatite nanocomposite (AZ91-20FA) was made via the blending–pressing–sintering method. In vitro corrosion measurements were performed for characterization of initial materials and produced composite. The results showed that the addition of FA nano particles to magnesium alloy as reinforcement can reduce the corrosion rate and accelerate the formation of bone-like apatite layer and in turn provide better protection for matrix alloy. It is suggested that the formation of bone-like apatite layer on the surface of magnesium alloy might contribute to the good osteoconductivity of magnesium alloys.

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► FA nano particles as reinforcement reduce the corrosion rate.
► FA nano particles as reinforcement accelerate the formation of bone-like apatite.
► Bone-like apatite layer provides better protection for matrix alloy.