Improvement of the mechanical properties and corrosion resistance of biodegradable β-Ca3(PO4)2/Mg-Zn composites prepared by powder metallurgy: the adding β-Ca3(PO4)2, hot extrusion and aging treatment

- 10%β-Ca3(PO4)2/Mg-6%Zn (wt. %) composites are prepared by powder metallurgy.
- The effects of hot extrusion and aging treatment on properties are investigated.
- The element distribution and phase identification are studied in detail.
- The mechanical properties of the composites are suitable for bone implants.
- The as-extruded composite imparted by aging treatment is harmless to L-929 cells.

In this study, 10%β-Ca3(PO4)2/Mg-6%Zn (wt.%) composites with Mg-6%Zn alloy as control were prepared by powder metallurgy. After hot extrusion, the as-extruded composites were aged for 72 h at 150 °C. The effects of the adding β-Ca3(PO4)2, hot extrusion and aging treatment on their microstructure, mechanical properties and corrosion resistance were investigated. The XRD results identified α-Mg, MgZn phase and β-Ca3(PO4)2 phase in these composites. After hot extrusion, grains were significantly refined, and the larger-sized β-Ca3(PO4)2 particles and coarse MgZn phases were broken into linear-distributed β-Ca3(PO4)2 and MgZn phases along the extrusion direction. After aging treatment, the elements of Zn, Ca, P and O presented a more homogeneous distribution. The compressive strengths of the β-Ca3(PO4)2/Mg-Zn composites were approximately double those of natural bone, and their densities and elastic moduli matched those of natural bone. The immersion tests and electrochemical tests revealed that the adding β-Ca3(PO4)2, hot extrusion and aging treatment could promote the formation of protective corrosion product layer on the sample surface in Ringer's solution, which improved corrosion resistance of the β-Ca3(PO4)2/Mg-Zn composites. The XRD results indicated that the corrosion product layer contained Mg(OH)2, β-Ca3(PO4)2 and hydroxyapatite (HA). The cytotoxicity assessments showed the as-extruded β-Ca3(PO4)2/Mg-Zn composite aged for 72 h was harmless to L-929 cells. These results suggested that the β-Ca3(PO4)2/Mg-Zn composites prepared by powder metallurgy were promising to be used for bone tissue engineering.