Tribological and mechanical properties Mg-Zn-xSr-HA hybrid nanocomposites prepared by powder metallurgy technique

Abstract

In this work, biocompatible minerals such as zinc (Zn), strontium (Sr), and hydroxyapatite (HA) were combined with magnesium (Mg) to create a biomaterial with enhanced mechanical and tribological properties via powder metallurgy. Mg, Mg-4Zn-1Sr, Mg-4Zn-2Sr, Mg-4Zn-1Sr-0.3HA, Mg-4Zn-2Sr-0.3HA were produced by varying the strontium content from 1 to 2 wt%. The powder compositions were homogeneously mixed in a ball mill before being compressed in a die with a weight of 200 kN. The green preform was sintered in a muffle furnace at 520 °C for 2 h before being cooled to room temperature. The hardness has been improved, this is due to the inclusion of Zn and Sr with HA into the Mg hybrid nanocomposites and also the decrease in porosity is also one the reason for increase in hardness. The mass loss, wear volume loss and wear rate increases with applied load for Mg and decreases linearly for hybrid nanocomposites. The coefficient of friction (CoF) increases for Mg and decreases gradually for Hybrid nanocomposites with applied load. The SEM image of the worn surfaces area shows better wear resistance of the Mg Hybrid nanocomposites is reduced compare to that of the Mg.