Microstructural, mechanical and in vitro degradation properties of magnesium hybrid nanocomposites for orthopedic applications

Özer E., Zalaoğlu D., AYVAZ M., Übeyli M., Aksu U., Eryılmaz M.

Ceramics International, 2025 (SCI-Expanded, Scopus) identifier

  • Publication Type: Article / Article
  • Publication Date: 2025
  • Doi Number: 10.1016/j.ceramint.2025.09.454
  • Journal Name: Ceramics International
  • Journal Indexes: Science Citation Index Expanded (SCI-EXPANDED), Scopus, Academic Search Premier, Aerospace Database, Chemical Abstracts Core, Communication Abstracts, Compendex, INSPEC, Metadex, Civil Engineering Abstracts
  • Keywords: Hybrid reinforcement, In vitro corrosion, Magnesium nanocomposite, Powder metallurgy
  • Manisa Celal Bayar University Affiliated: Yes

Abstract

Biodegradable magnesium composites have a strong potential to eliminate the shortcomings related to the use of bioinert implants in orthopedic applications. In this work, the Mg2Zn1Mn nanocomposites consisting of nano hydroxyapatite (HA) and alumina particles were fabricated successfully by the application of mechanical alloying and sintering. The influence of sintering time and reinforcement ratio on the microstructural, mechanical, and in vitro degradation behavior of these nanocomposites was assessed in detail. The two-step sintering operation (at 450 °C for 1 h and at 560 °C for 2 h) caused a remarkable improvement on the nanohardness, elastic modulus and corrosion resistance of the nanocomposites compared to the one-step sintering (at 560 °C for 1 h). The nanohardness of Mg2Zn1Mn hybrid nanocomposite increased with increasing the hybrid reinforcement ratio and it reached 2.08 GPa for the composite reinforced with 20 % hybrid reinforcement. In addition, the insertion of 6 wt % hybrid reinforcement increased the compressive yield strength of Mg2Zn1Mn by 46 %. Moreover, the nanocomposite with 15 wt % hybrid reinforcement had 8- and 3-times lower corrosion rate than the Mg2Zn1Mn alloy, concerning the electrochemical and immersion corrosion tests, respectively. The results showed that the Mg2Zn1Mn hybrid nanocomposite reinforced with HA and alumina can be considered as a good candidate material to be utilized as biodegradable implant in orthopedics.