Alloy In Simulated Body Fluid Research Articles

Magnesium-Titanium Alloys: A Promising Solution for Biodegradable Biomedical Implants.

Magnesium (Mg) has attracted considerable attention as a biodegradable material for medical implants owing to its excellent biocompatibility, mitigating long-term toxicity and stress shielding. Nevertheless, challenges arise from its rapid degradation and low corrosion resistance under physiological conditions. To overcome these challenges, titanium (biocompatibility and corrosion resistance) has been integrated into Mg. The incorporation of titanium significantly improves mechanical and corrosion resistance properties, thereby enhancing performance in biological settings. Mg-Ti alloys are produced through mechanical alloying and spark plasma sintering (SPS). The SPS technique transforms powder mixtures into bulk materials while preserving structural integrity, resulting in enhanced corrosion resistance, particularly Mg80-Ti20 alloy in simulated body fluids. Moreover, Mg-Ti alloy revealed no more toxicity when assessed on pre-osteoblastic cells. Furthermore, the ability of Mg-Ti-based alloy to create composites with polymers such as PLGA (polylactic-co-glycolic acid) widen their biomedical applications by regulating degradation and ensuring pH stability. These alloys promote temporary orthopaedic implants, offering initial load-bearing capacity during the healing process of fractures without requiring a second surgery for removal. To address scalability constraints, further research is necessary to investigate additional consolidation methods beyond SPS. It is essential to evaluate the relationship between corrosion and mechanical loading to confirm their adequacy in physiological environments. This review article highlights the importance of mechanical characterization and corrosion evaluation of Mg-Ti alloys, reinforcing their applicability in fracture fixation and various biomedical implants.

Microstructure, Mechanical Properties and Corrosion Performance of Laser-Welded NiTi Shape Memory Alloy in Simulated Body Fluid.

Laser-welding is a promising technique for welding NiTi shape memory alloys with acceptable tensile strength and comparable corrosion performance for biomedical applications. The microstructural characteristics and localized corrosion behavior of NiTi alloys in a simulated body fluid (SBF) environment are evaluated. A microstructural examination indicated the presence of fine and equiaxed grains with a B2 austenite phase in the base metal (BM), while the weld metal (WM) had a coarse dendritic microstructure with intermetallic precipitates including Ti2Ni and Ni4Ti3. The hardness decreased from the BM to the WM, and the average hardness for the BM was 352 ± 5 HV, while it ranged between 275 and 307 HV and 265 and 287 HV for the HAZ and WM, respectively. Uni-axial tensile tests revealed a substantial decrease in the tensile strength of NiTi WM (481 ± 19 MPa), with a reduced joint efficiency of 34%. The localized corrosion performance of NiTi BM was superior to the WM, with electrochemical test responses indicating a pitting potential and low corrosion rate in SBF environments. The corrosion rate of the NiTi BM and WM was 0.048 ± 0.0018 mils per year (mpy) and 0.41 ± 0.019 mpy, respectively. During welding, NiTi's strength and biocompatibility properties changed due to the alteration in microstructure and formation of intermetallic phases as a result of Ti enrichment. The performance and safety of welded medical devices may be impacted during welding, and it is essential to preserve the biocompatibility of NiTi components for biomedical applications.

Surface treatments on 3D printed Ti6Al4V biomedical plates to enhance corrosion resistance in simulated physiological solutions and under inflammatory conditions

Ti6Al4V biomedical plates were fabricated by Laser Powder Bed Fusion using different process parameters. A slight influence of the laser energy density on mechanical properties and microstructure was revealed. Chemical etching allowed to make the surface of 3D samples uniform removing also spheres of unfused material. After etching some samples were anodized in calcium acetate and β-glycerolphosphate containing solution to grow a Ca and P containing porous TiO2 layers. The chemical etching improved the corrosion resistance of the alloy in simulated body fluid, while only after anodizing the alloys resulted to be corrosion resistant under inflammatory and severe inflammatory conditions.

Influence of Uric Acid on the Corrosion Behavior of AZ31 Magnesium Alloy in Simulated Body Fluid

Influence of Uric Acid on the Corrosion Behavior of AZ31 Magnesium Alloy in Simulated Body Fluid

Enhancing the corrosion resistance of a novel bio-compatible Mg-1Zn-0.45Ca alloy in simulated body fluid by a phosphate treated PEO coating

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to investigate the effect of plasma electrolytic oxidation (PEO) coatings and sealed PEO coatings on the corrosion resistance and cytocompatibility of a novel Mg-1Zn-0.45Ca alloy in simulated body fluid (SBF).Design/methodology/approachThe microstructure, corrosion resistance and cytocompatibility of PEO coatings and phosphate conversion-treated PEO coatings were investigated and was compared with the bare Mg alloy.FindingsThe hot-extruded Mg-Zn-Ca alloy exhibit inhomogeneous microstructure and suffered from localized corrosion in the SBF. The PEO coating after phosphate conversion treatment offers enhanced protectiveness to the Mg alloy within an immersion period of up to 60 days, which is significantly improved compared with the performance of the PEO-coated Mg alloy, but the cytocompatibility was slightly decreased.Originality/valueThis work offers new perspective in balancing the protectiveness and cytocompatibility of bio-materials.

Comparing the Corrosion Behavior and Microstructure of a WE43 Mg Alloy in Simulated Body Fluids Under Different CO2 Conditions

With the low density and high specific strength, magnesium (Mg) alloys are lightweight alloys with various applications. In addition, combined with biocompatibility, similar mechanical properties to human bones, and unique biodegradability, Mg alloys are promising biodegradable implant materials for orthopedic surgeries. However, the degradation rates of Mg alloys are too fast in physiological environments, which limits the clinical applications of Mg implants. Therefore, understanding the corrosion behavior in physiological environments is crucial for developing biodegradable Mg alloys.During Mg alloy degradation, hydroxide (OH-) ions are generated, and the pH near the alloy surface increases. Since carbonate-bicarbonate (CO3 2--HCO3 -) is a vital pH buffer system in the human body, the corrosion behavior of Mg alloys would be affected by the CO2 concentrations of the test environments. In this study, we performed electrochemical and corrosion tests of a solution heat-treated WE43 (Mg-4 wt%Y-3 wt%Nd) alloy in Hanks’ balanced salt solutions (HBSS) at 37°C. By performing the tests in air and in an incubator maintained at 5% CO2, the effect of carbonate-bicarbonate pH buffering on the corrosion behavior and corrosion microstructure of the WE43 Mg alloy was investigated.When testing the WE43 Mg alloy in air, a general corrosion morphology was observed during the 24-hour immersion. In contrast, WE43 Mg alloy tested in the incubator shows a more active surface potential and localized corrosion initiates on the alloy surface in the early stages of immersion. Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) analysis shows that WE43 Mg alloy tested in air has better corrosion resistance than in the incubator. Furthermore, the corrosion resistance of the alloy tested in air increases with immersion time but decreases when tested in the incubator. Potentiodynamic polarization curves after 24-hour immersion confirm that the corrosion current density (i corr) of the WE43 Mg alloy tested in the incubator is higher than that when tested in air. The difference in corrosion behavior is owing to the carbonate-bicarbonate pH buffering effect and will be discussed based on corrosion microstructure characterizations. Figure 1

Origin of the time-dependent corrosion behavior of biodegradable Mg-Si-Zn alloys in simulated body fluid

The corrosion behavior of Mg‐0.6%Si‐2%Zn alloys in simulated body fluid was studied to understand the time-dependent processes and interfacial phenomena. The alloy's microstructure includes Mg-rich dendrites within eutectic microconstituent. Electrochemical responses showed minimal dependence on dendritic-spacing. Initial immersion (12.2-hour) formed a protective layer, indicated by potential elevation, polarization resistance escalation, and changes in Nyquist and Bode plots. However, between 12.2- and 168.4-hour, the protective layer integrity decreased, with observable corrosion. The corrosion mechanism involved protective layer formation followed by cracking induced by Pilling-Bedworth ratio and high H2 evolution kinetics. This time-dependent corrosion resistance resembles both corrosion-resistant and corrosion-sensitive Mg alloys, showcasing challenges in accurate assessment.

Electrochemical properties and corrosion induced mechanical degradation of biomedical Zn–Cu–Li alloy in simulated body fluid

The electrochemical behavior and corrosion induced mechanical degradation of biodegradable Zn–2Cu–0.03Li alloy were in detail investigated. The results indicated that the corrosion product film presented an increasing corrosion resistance, while the localized corrosion induced by microgalvanic effect was intensified. Corrosion pits, as the typical defect, acted as the crack initiation sites and accelerated the fracture process of the Zn–2Cu–0.03Li alloy. Accordingly, the fracture mode transformed from ductile to brittle failure. Significant loss in ultimate tensile strength and elongation of the alloys occurred due to strong stress concentration at corrosion pit, threatening the mechanical reliability after implantation.

Investigations on the corrosion characteristics of additive manufactured Mg–Ag alloy in simulated body fluids for biodegradable implants

Investigations on the corrosion characteristics of additive manufactured Mg–Ag alloy in simulated body fluids for biodegradable implants

Electrochemical Evaluation of Biomedical Titanium and Its Alloys in Simulated Body Fluids with Inflammation Condition H2O2

Electrochemical Evaluation of Biomedical Titanium and Its Alloys in Simulated Body Fluids with Inflammation Condition H2O2

Zinc oxide coating impact on corrosion of ZK60 magnesium alloys in simulated body fluid

Magnesium alloys offer an alternative for applications in biodegradable implant devices within human body, eliminating the need for subsequent surgeries to remove metallic parts. Nevertheless, the uniform degradation rate of magnesium (Mg) alloys must be enhanced by applying surface coatings, preferably incorporating bactericidal and biocompatible agents, to improve the implant properties. In this study, magnesium alloys ZK60 (Mg, Zn, and Zr) and ZK60-Mm (Mg, Zn, and Zr with 1.5 % mass of rare-earth elements - mischmetal), both having a specific mass close to the bone, were investigated. The surfaces were coated with ZnO using physical vapor deposition (PVD) in the HiPIMS (High Power Impulse Magnetron Sputtering) mode. The corrosion resistance and degradation of the alloys were studied using electrochemical and immersion tests in simulated body fluid. Surface analysis and microstructures were characterized using Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), Energy Dispersive X-ray Spectroscopy (EDX), and X-ray Diffraction (XRD). The results showed that the ZnO coating favors osseointegration with hydroxyapatite formation after immersion in SBF. Moreover, electrochemical analysis indicates an enhancement in corrosion resistance. On average, the corrosion current density decreases by a factor of four for the ZK60 alloy and two for the ZK60-Mm alloy post-coating. The corrosion rate of ZnO-coated alloys is lower compared to that of uncoated alloys, showcasing the promising utility of this coating.

Effect of bovine serum albumin on immersion corrosion and tribocorrosion behavior of Zn-0.4Mn alloy in simulated body fluid

The related research on the corrosion of degradable Zn-Mn alloy in vitro is not comprehensive. This work investigated the effect of bovine serum albumin (BSA) on corrosion of Zn-Mn alloy in simulated body fluid. The corrosion influence of BSA on the alloy is related to the immersing time. When tribocorrosion occurs, the average depth of frictional wear scratches decreases by 10.7 % and 57.1 % after adding 0.1 g/L and 10 g/L BSA, respectively. It can be further reduced to 68.1 % after applying a voltage of-1.05 V (vs. SCE). This work contributes to degradation control of Zn-Mn alloy implants in vivo.

Corrosion Rate and Mechanism of Degradation of Chitosan/TiO2 Coatings Deposited on MgZnCa Alloy in Hank's Solution.

Overly fast corrosion degradation of biodegradable magnesium alloys has been a major problem over the last several years. The development of protective coatings by using biocompatible, biodegradable, and non-toxic material such as chitosan ensures a reduction in the rate of corrosion of Mg alloys in simulated body fluids. In this study, chitosan/TiO2 nanocomposite coating was used for the first time to hinder the corrosion rate of Mg19Zn1Ca alloy in Hank's solution. The main goal of this research is to investigate and explain the corrosion degradation mechanism of Mg19Zn1Ca alloy coated by nanocomposite chitosan-based coating. The chemical composition, structural analyses, and corrosion tests were used to evaluate the protective properties of the chitosan/TiO2 coating deposited on the Mg19Zn1Ca substrate. The chitosan/TiO2 coating slows down the corrosion rate of the magnesium alloy by more than threefold (3.6 times). The interaction of TiO2 (NPs) with the hydroxy and amine groups present in the chitosan molecule cause their uniform distribution in the chitosan matrix. The chitosan/TiO2 coating limits the contact of the substrate with Hank's solution.

Effect of Electrolytic Plasma Polishing on Surface Properties of Titanium Alloy

Electrolytic plasma polishing (EPPo) is an advanced metal surface finishing technology with high quality and environmental protection that has broad application prospects in the biomedical field. However, the effect of EPPo on surface properties such as corrosion resistance and the wettability of biomedical titanium alloys remains to be investigated. This paper investigated the changes in surface roughness, surface morphology, microstructure, and chemical composition of Ti6Al4V alloy by EPPo and their effects on surface corrosion resistance, wettability, and residual stress. The results showed that Ra decreased from 0.3899 to 0.0577 μm after EPPo. The surface crystallinity was improved, and the average grain size increased from 251 nm to more than 800 nm. The oxidation behavior of EPPo leads to an increase in surface oxygen content and the formation of TiO2 and Al2O3 oxide layers. EPPo can significantly improve the corrosion resistance and wettability of titanium alloy in simulated body fluid and eliminate the residual stress on the sample surface. The surface properties are enhanced not only by the reduction in surface roughness but also by the formation of a denser oxide film on the surface, changes in the microstructure, an increase in surface free energy, and the annealing effect developed during EPPo. This study can provide guidance and references for applying EPPo to biomedical titanium alloy parts.

Effect of Surface Nano Structuring on Corrosion and Tribocorrosion Behavior of Ti6Al4V Alloy in Simulated Body Fluid

Effect of Surface Nano Structuring on Corrosion and Tribocorrosion Behavior of Ti6Al4V Alloy in Simulated Body Fluid

Corrosion resistance of hybrid plasma electrolytic oxidation coatings on AZ31B magnesium alloy in simulated body fluid

This study examines the effects of a hydroxyapatite/anatase TiO2/CeO2 coating on the corrosion of AZ31B magnesium alloy in a simulated body fluid. Plasma electrolytic oxidation (PEO) is used to create the coating, and the surface properties are analysed using X-ray diffraction (XRD), atomic force microscopy (AFM) and field-emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM). Contact angle measurements adapted to compare the uncoated substrate (144.74 ± 2.08°) with the coated substrates, which exhibit contact angles of (107.92 ± 2.16°), (95.88 ± 2.06°) and (66.05 ± 2.09°) for the respective coating durations. Increasing the thickness of the coating improves its corrosion resistance. Specifically, a 6-minute PEO coating significantly increases the thickness and provides better protection against corrosion for the AZ31B magnesium alloy. Cross-sectional scans of the coated samples revealed an increase in specimen thickness from 32.92 μm to77.17 μm. Potentiodynamic polarisation tests in a simulated body fluid reveal that the 6-minute coated sample shows the highest corrosion resistance, with the lowest corrosion current density (1.9037 × 10-06) compared to other coatings, indicating strong protection against corrosion. This research proposes a novel method to enhance the corrosion resistance of PEO coatings on magnesium alloys by depositing a thicker layer of hydroxyapatite, anatase TiO2 and CeO2. This approach results in a stronger and more effective protective system against corrosion.

Improvement in corrosion resistance of AZ91D Mg alloy in simulated body fluid by cerium-based/stearic acid composite coatings

Magnesium alloys have attracted attention due to their biocompatibility and biodegradability. In this work, composite coatings are developed to potentially improve the corrosion resistance of AZ91D Mg alloy in simulated physiological fluid. Cerium-based/stearic acid coatings were prepared by electrodeposition combined with a simple immersion method. The effect of stearic acid bath concentration on the contact angle and corrosion resistance of the composite coatings was evaluated. The results showed that the stearic acid treatment increased the hydrophobicity of the surfaces of the cerium-based simple coatings. The use of an appropriate stearic acid concentration is a key for the fabrication of hydrophobic surfaces. The duplex coatings were demonstrated to protect the substrate from corrosion in Ringer solution.

Effect of Si addition on microstructure and performance of a biomedical Ti-Nb-Zr-Ta alloy prepared via powder hot extrusion

In this study, TNZT-xSi ((Ti53Nb35Zr7Ta5)100-xSix, x=0, 1.4, 2.3, wt.%) alloys are prepared by powder hot extrusion. The effect of Si addition on microstructure, mechanical properties, corrosion resistance and in vitro apatite formation ability of TNZT-xSi alloys is investigated. The as-extruded TNZT alloy mainly consists of elongated BCC grains. The addition of Si leads to the precipitation of fine (Ti, Zr)2Si (S2) particles from the BCC matrix. With the increase of Si content, the volume fraction of recrystallized grains rises significantly, and the microstructure of extruded alloys tends to transform from elongated to equiaxed grains. It’s indicated that the introduction of S2 particles activates the dynamic recrystallization process during hot extrusion and results in an obvious reduction in the overall grain size. Compared with the TNZT-0Si base alloy, the tensile strength of TNZT-2.3Si alloy is improved from 726MPa to 983MPa, with the elongation declining from 28.0% to 9.5%. The TNZT-xSi alloys exhibit higher corrosion potential (Ecorr) and lower corrosion current density (Icorr) than Ti-6Al-4V alloy in simulated body fluid, due to the formation of more stable oxides such as Nb2O5, ZrO2 and Ta2O5. Furthermore, TNZT-xSi alloys have apatite formation ability superior to Ti-6Al-4V. These results suggest that TNZT-xSi alloys may have the potential as a biomaterial for implant applications.

Three-stage degradation behavior and dealloying assisted galvanic corrosion mechanism of 300 MPa grade Zn-2Cu-xLi (x = 0.2-0.8) alloys in simulated body fluid

Corrosion behaviors of biodegradable Zn alloys with ternary phases are rarely studied. This paper reveals three-stage corrosion behavior of high-strength Zn-2Cu-(0.2–0.8)Li alloys immersed in simulated body fluid for 30 days. At stage Ⅰ, Zn phase is preferentially corroded due to cathodic Zn-Cu-Li ternary phases recently identified. At stage Ⅱ, corrosion is suppressed due to formation of protective layer containing LiOH and Li2CO3 with appropriate Pilling-Bedworth ratios. At stage Ⅲ, dealloying of Zn-Cu-Li phases rises their Cu contents, accelerating galvanic corrosion and resulting in large pits beyond 200 µm.

Corrosion behavior of Zr-14Nb-5Ta-1Mo alloy in simulated body fluid.

Metals that are used to reconstruct skeletal structures often interfere with magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) owing to differences in magnetic susceptibility; consequently, metals with lower magnetic susceptibilities need to be developed for use in implant devices. Herein, we investigated the corrosion properties of the Zr-14Nb-5Ta-1Mo alloy, which exhibits low magnetic susceptibility and excellent mechanical properties. The pitting potential of Zr-14Nb-5Ta-1Mo was higher than that of pure Zr. The passive current density of Zr-14Nb-5Ta-1Mo also higher than that of pure Zr, which is ascribable to slow reconstruction of the initial passive film associated with the presence of Nb and Ta. XPS revealed that the passive film is enriched with Nb and Ta. Therefore, while the Zr-14Nb-5Ta-1Mo alloy exhibited a high initial passive current density in simulated body fluid, it formed a stable passive film that suppressed localized corrosion. Zr-14Nb-5Ta-1Mo is therefore a prospective implant-material alloy candidate.