Corrosion degradation behavior of Mg–Ca alloy with high Ca content in SBF

Abstract

The corrosion degradation behavior of a Mg–Ca alloy with high Ca content aiming for a potential bone repair material in the simulated body fluid (SBF) was investigated. The microstructure and phase constitution of the pristine Mg–30%Ca (mass fraction) alloy were characterized with scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and X-ray diffraction (XRD). The Mg–30%Ca alloy samples were immersed in the SBF for 90 d, and the morphology, composition and cytotoxicity of the final corrosion product were examined. It is found that Mg–30%Ca alloy is composed of α-Mg and Mg2Ca phases. During the corrosion process in the SBF, the Mg2Ca phase acts as an anode and the α-Mg phase acts as a cathode. The final corrosion product of the Mg–30%Ca alloy in SBF includes a small amount of black precipitates and white suspended particles. The white suspended particles are Mg(OH)2 and the black particles are believed to have a core–shell structure. The cytotoxicity experiments indicate that these black precipitates do not induce toxicity to cells.