Effects of surface alloying on electrochemical corrosion behavior of oxygen-plasma-modified biomedical magnesium alloy

► A biomedical Mg-Nd-Zn-Zr alloy was modified by oxygen plasma ion immersion implantation. ► No significant improvement in the corrosion resistance was achieved with oxygen-modification. ► Surface alloying with Al or Cr improves the bio-corrosion resistance of the O-modified Mg alloy.