Abstract
Iron (Fe) and zinc (Zn) are attractive materials for fabricating temporary implants. However, for some applications, the use of these materials is limited by their relatively slow corrosion rates. This study investigates the use of poly(lactic) acid (PLA) coating to control corrosion rates of biodegradable pure Fe and Zn in a physiological environment. PLA accelerated the degradation of both Fe and Zn, attributed to the occurrence of localized acidic environments at the metal-coating interface generated by the hydrolytic decomposition of the polymer. Corrosion enhancement favoured an amorphous polymer structure (poly (dl-lactide)), low molecular weight, and thicker coatings. Polarization and immersion tests indicated an optimum coating thickness (Fe = 15 μm, Zn = 10 μm) at which maximum corrosion acceleration is achieved, as determined by the interaction of the rate of polymer hydrolysis and metal surface passivation.
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