Laser additive manufacturing of magnesium alloys and its biomedical applications

Abstract

Biomedical magnesium (Mg) alloy with unique biodegradability and excellent biocompatibility is one of the most sought after materials in medical field for orthopedics applications. Nevertheless, the high corrosion rate and inadequate mechanical properties hinder its development. Apart from that, to obtain the best surgical result, the size and shape of the fixation implant need to be adapted to the individual case. Thus, additive manufacturing (AM) processes, such as laser powder bed fusion (LPBF), are used to overcome these issues. This work reviews the recent advancements in biodegradable Mg-based alloys prepared by LPBF for biomedical applications. The influence of feedstock features and manufacturing parameters on the formability and quality is delineated in detail. The mechanical performances, degradation behaviors, and biological behavior of the LPBF-processed parts are discussed. Furthermore, we also made some suggestions for the challenges of Mg alloys in LPBF processing and applications in biomedical.