High strength AM50 magnesium alloy as a material for possible stent application in medicine

Abstract

ABSTRACTStents made of stainless steel are usually permanently placed in the treated area even after recovering from the disease which can cause problems like in-stent restenosis and thrombosis. A biodegradable stent temporarily opens vessels for remodeling and afterward, it is absorbed. Magnesium is suitable for such application, however, it is limited by its high corrosion rate. Especially iron negatively affects corrosion properties. Manganese as an alloying element can trap iron impurities. In this work, AM50 magnesium alloy was studied in the form of wires. The aim was to find main connections between microstructure, mechanical and corrosion properties of presented materials and compare them with advanced magnesium alloys containing rare earth elements. Studied AM50 is characterized by the tensile yield strength of 258 MPa and elongation of 14%. The reasonable corrosion rate of 1.24 mm/y and good cytocompatibility of AM50 alloy predetermine this alloy as a suitable material for stent application.