Effect of Zinc and Bio-Glass Addition on Mechanical Properties and Corrosion Behavior of Magnesium-Based Composites for Orthopedic Application: A Preliminary Study

Magnesium is extensively researched as a biodegradable implant material. However, achieving a combination of biomechanical properties viz., controlled degradation, bio-transformability and osteoconductivity is highly challenging. Indeed, bio-composites developed by reinforcing bio-ceramics with metals are gaining research interest. In this current work, the suitability of a bio-composite developed by reinforcing 5, 10 and 15% of bioglass (BG) in Mg and Mg-3 wt.% Zn metal matrix is investigated. The bio-composites containing Mg, Mg-BG and Mg-Zn-BG are processed by vacuum sintering and tested for important mechanical and corrosion properties. Particle size analysis revealed that magnesium exhibited a larger mean particle size while zinc evinced the lowest average particle size. The density-porosity analysis showed that porosity was found to increase linearly with the addition of BG. In contrast, the compressive strength of Mg-BG and Mg-Zn-BG composites increased up to 10 wt.% BG and decreased drastically for 15 wt.% BG reinforcement. The addition of Zn and BG significantly enhanced the Vickers hardness, showing an increasing trend with the increase in BG reinforcement content. Immersion corrosion study in phosphate buffered saline revealed that 10 wt.% BG reinforced composite exhibited the least corrosion rate. Thus, composites developed by reinforcing BG in Mg-3Zn metal matrix showed enhanced mechanical and corrosion properties in the physiological environment. The possible corrosion mechanism of Mg, Mg-Zn and Mg-Zn-BG composites is also proposed and compared.