Effects of ultra-high pressure solution treatment on microstructure and mechanical property of Zn-Li alloy

Abstract

Due to the moderate degradation rate and acceptable biocompatibility, zinc and its alloys have become the promising candidates of the biomedical implant materials. Nonetheless, the poor mechanical properties limit their development and applications. Thus, to promote their mechanical properties, the Zn-xLi alloys were treated with ultra-high pressure solid solution (UHPS). The phase content of as-cast (AC) and UHPS Zn-xLi was calculated, and the solid solution line of Zn-xLi under 5 GPa was established according to the lever law. Obviously, the solid solution line was shifted to the left and the solid solution zone expanded. The UHPS samples showed higher solid solubility and compressive yield strength than the AC samples. The optimal strength for Zn-0.3Li and Zn-0.5Li were 537.4 MPa and 568.5 MPa, respectively. The ultra-high pressure solid solution treatment greatly improved the solid solvent of the Zn-Li alloys, and caused a strong solid solution reinforcement, which is the main reason for the high strength of UHPS samples.