Electrochemical polymerization of pyrrole over AZ31 Mg alloy for biomedical applications

Electrochemical polymerization of pyrrole (Py) from aqueous salicylate solution over AZ31 Mg alloy was carried out using cyclic voltammetry (CV). The effect of monomer concentration on the surface and electrochemical corrosion in simulated body fluid (SBF) were analysed. Attenuated total reflection-infrared (ATR-IR) spectra showed the characteristic ring stretching peaks for polypyrrole (PPy). Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and atomic force microscopy (AFM) studies exhibited typical cauliflower morphology with rough surface for PPy coated AZ31 Mg alloy. Open circuit potential measurement and potentiodynamic polarization studies revealed that the coating prepared using 0.25 M of Py had positive shift of about 120 mV in corrosion potential and lower corrosion current density (0.03 mA/cm2) compared to other concentrations and uncoated AZ31 Mg alloy (0.25 mA/cm2). Electrochemical impedance spectroscopic (EIS) studies of uncoated and PPy coated Mg alloy in SBF revealed three-time constants behaviour with about one order of increment in impedance value for 0.25 M of Py.

► Polymerization of pyrrole over AZ31 Mg was carried out using cyclic voltammetry.
► Pyrrole concentration was optimized to accomplish the adherent and uniform coating.
► Effect of monomer concentration on the surface morphology was discussed.
► Corrosion resistance of AZ31 Mg in SBF was studied as a function of Py concentration.
► PPy coated AZ31 Mg alloy exhibited enhanced corrosion resistance at 0.25 M of Py.