The role of microstructure on the degradation behavior and biocompatibility of Mg-Ca-Zn-Y-Mn alloy

Abstract

In this study, the effect of annealing on the microstructure and following corrosion and biological properties of Mg-1.0Ca-0.5Zn-0.1Y-0.03Mn (at. %) alloy prepared by rapid solidified powder metallurgy was investigated. The annealing at 300 °C for 2 h did not change the grain size significantly; however, a slight growth of Mg₂Ca precipitates was observed. When the annealing temperature increased up to 400 °C for 2 h, full recrystallization of the alloy occurred; the grains and precipitates grew noticeably. Those changes were responsible for decreasing the corrosion and the tribocorrosion resistance of the alloy. Due to lowered resistance to the corrosion medium, the cell viability was also reduced. Although MG63 cells on the annealed specimens developed filopodia, cell-to-cell communication was not observed.