Investigation of the mechanical and degradation properties of Mg–Sr and Mg–Zn–Sr alloys for use as potential biodegradable implant materials

Magnesium (Mg) has garnered significant interest for its potential use as a biodegradable implant material. Of specific interest in this study is the effect of zinc (Zn) and strontium (Sr) additions on both the mechanical and degradation behaviors in Mg due to their established beneficial effect on strength and microstructural grain refinement while being biocompatible. Three binary Mg–xx wt% Sr (x=0.5,1.0,1.5)(x=0.5,1.0,1.5) alloys and three ternary Mg–xx wt%Zn–0.5wt% Sr (x=2.0,4.0,6.0)(x=2.0,4.0,6.0) were studied to evaluate their mechanical and degradation behavior. Mechanical testing was performed at room temperature on solution-treated and peak aged alloys using microhardness and tensile tests. Degradation was studied using immersion tests in Hanks’ solution. Results indicate a decrease in grain size and an increase in strength with increasing Sr and Zn content. When considering degradation behavior Mg–0.5wt%Sr demonstrated the lowest degradation rate among binary alloys. At constant Sr content at 0.5wt%, the addition of Zn increased the corrosion rate, with the highest rate for the Mg–6.0wt%Zn–0.5wt%Sr. The alloys which best optimized both mechanical and degradation behaviors were Mg–2.0wt%Zn–0.5wt%Sr and Mg–4.0wt%Zn–0.5wt%Sr. Finally, microstructure and property relationships were evaluated and discussed in reference to each alloy’s potential use as a biodegradable implant material.

► Three binary Mg–Sr and three ternary Mg–Zn–Sr alloys were investigated.
► Microstructure, mechanical properties and degradation behavior was analyzed.
► Mechanical and degradation properties highly dependent on composition and microstructure.
► Low Sr and moderate Zn additions give optimum properties.