Effect of Microstructure on Corrosion Behavior of Mg–Sr Alloy in Hank’s Solution

Abstract

Mg–Sr alloy has been studied as a potential biodegradable material with excellent bioactivity to promote the bone formation. However, its degradation behavior needs to be well controlled to avoid the negative effect, which is important for future application. Therefore in this study, the microstructure and its effect on corrosion behavior of an Mg–1.5Sr alloy were investigated. The microstructures of the alloy under different processing procedures were characterized by both optical and scanning electron microscopes. The corrosion performance was studied in Hank’s solution using immersion, potentiodynamic polarization and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) tests. The results showed that the grain size and the amount and distribution of β-Mg17Sr2 had obvious effects on the corrosion behavior of Mg–Sr alloy. The smaller the grain size was, the more the protective surface layer formed on Mg–Sr alloy, and the higher the corrosion resistance was. For the as-cast Mg–Sr alloy, the network-like second phases precipitated along the grain boundaries could not hinder the corrosion due to their own corrosion cracking accelerating the intergranular corrosion. However, the refinement of second phases increased the corrosion resistance of the as-extruded alloy. After solution treatment at 450 °C for 5 h, the grains in the alloy did not grow much and β-Mg17Sr2 phases homogenously distributed in the alloy, resulting in the increase in corrosion resistance. However, after aging treatment, large amount of precipitated second phases increased the galvanic corrosion of the alloy, accelerating the development of corrosion.