Simultaneously improving the plasticity and corrosion resistance of biomedical Mg-based bulk metallic glass by introducing SnZn alloy solder

Abstract

The inherent brittleness and unideal degradation rate of Mg-Zn-Ca bulk metallic glass (BMG) pose significant challenges for its application as degradable biomaterials. To address this issue, we introduced a non-toxic, highly ductile Sn-Zn alloy as a secondary phase within the powder metallurgy Mg-Zn-Ca BMG, resulting in a notable enhancement in plasticity. This study further investigates the impact of the Sn-Zn reinforced phase on the corrosion behavior of the BMG in Hank's solution. Our findings reveal that the Mg-Zn-Ca/Sn-Zn BMG composite not only surpasses the corrosion resistance of the Mg-Zn-Ca BMG, but also ranks among the most advanced biomedical Mg alloys reported to date. Importantly, the Mg-Zn-Ca/Sn-Zn BMG composite retains adequate strength and plasticity even after extended degradation, marking a significant advancement in the development of large-scale Mg-based medical metallic glasses.