Corrosion Behavior, Microstructure and Mechanical Properties of Novel Mg-Zn-Ca-Er Alloy for Bio-Medical Applications

• Main Authors: Devadas Bhat Panemangalore, Rajashekhara Shabadi, Manoj Gupta
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: MDPI AG 2021-03-01
• Series: Metals
• Subjects: magnesium; disintegrated melt deposition; microstructure; corrosion
• Online Access: https://www.mdpi.com/2075-4701/11/3/519

In this study, the effect of calcium (Ca) and erbium (Er) on the microstructure, mechanical properties, and corrosion behavior of magnesium-zinc alloys is reported. The alloys were prepared using disintegrated melt deposition (DMD) technique using the alloying additions as Zn, Ca, and Mg-Er master alloys and followed by hot extrusion. Results show that alloying addition of Er has significantly reduced the grain sizes of Mg-Zn alloys and also when compared to pure magnesium base material. It also has substantially enhanced both the tensile and the compressive properties by favoring the formation of MgZn₂ type secondary phases that are uniformly distributed during hot-extrusion. The quaternary Mg-Zn-Ca-Er alloy exhibited the highest strength due to lower grain size and particle strengthening due to the influence of the rare earth addition Er. The observed elongation was a result of extensive twinning observed in the alloys. Also, the degradation rates have been substantially reduced as a result of alloying additions and it is attributed to the barrier effect caused by the secondary phases.