In Vitro Corrosion Behavior and Mechanical Property of Novel Mg-Sn-In-Ga Alloys for Orthopedic Applications

doi:10.1007/s40195-024-01800-2

Abstract

Abstract:

This study develops novel Mg-Sn-In-Ga alloys as potential implant materials for orthopedic applications. The corrosion behavior of the Mg-Sn-In-Ga alloys was studied through mass loss measurements, hydrogen evolution measurements, electrochemical analysis, and corrosion morphology observations. The results show that the corrosion rate of the Mg-1Sn-1In-1Ga alloy was only 0.10 ± 0.003 mm/y after immersion in Hank’s solution for 15 days. This outstanding corrosion resistance was associated with the protective effect of the corrosion products. The increase in the Sn and Ga element content led to the precipitation of a large amount of Mg₂Sn and Mg₅Ga₂, which had a dominant effect on the corrosion rate in the Mg-5Sn-1In-2Ga alloy. These precipitates increased the current density and detached from the alloy surface during the corrosion process. This can lead to a weakened protective effect of the corrosion layer, and thus generate localized corrosion and an increase in the corrosion rate. The strength of the Mg-5Sn-1In-2Ga alloy was enhanced due to fine-grain strengthening and precipitation strengthening. The ultimate tensile strength and yield strength of the Mg-5Sn-1In-2Ga alloy were ~ 309 MPa and ~ 253 MPa, respectively.

Key words: Mg-Sn-In-Ga alloy, Corrosion behavior, Electrochemical measurements, Mechanical properties

Jing Wang, Xuejian Wang, Zongning Chen, Huijun Kang, Tongmin Wang, Enyu Guo. In Vitro Corrosion Behavior and Mechanical Property of Novel Mg-Sn-In-Ga Alloys for Orthopedic Applications[J]. Acta Metallurgica Sinica (English Letters), 2025, 38(3): 353-366.

Figures/Tables 14

Table 1 Chemical compositions of the Mg-Sn-In-Ga alloys (in wt%)

Alloys	Sn	In	Ga	Fe	Ni	Mg
Mg-1Sn-1In-1Ga	1.02	0.94	0.96	0.0035	0.0010	Bal.
Mg-5Sn-1In-2Ga	4.94	0.87	1.93	0.0031	0.0012	Bal.

Fig. 1 Microstructures of Mg-5Sn-1In-2Ga and Mg-1Sn-1In-1Ga alloys: a, d BSE images; b, e inverse pole figures; c, f grain size distribution; a-c Mg-5Sn-1In-2Ga alloy; d-f Mg-1Sn-1In-1Ga alloy

Fig. 2 TEM analysis of the Mg-5Sn-1In-2Ga alloy: a STEM image with EDS element distribution; b TEM bright field image with the corresponding SAED patterns of the precipitation particles

Fig. 3 TEM analysis of the Mg-1Sn-1In-1Ga alloy: a TEM bright field image; b HRTEM and c FFT images of the precipitation particle

Fig. 4 Corrosion rate of the Mg-5Sn-1In-2Ga, Mg-1Sn-1In-1Ga, and AZ31 alloys after immersion for 15 days in Hank’s solution: a mass loss rate; b hydrogen volume variation as a function of immersion time; c Mg2+ ion concentration in Hank’s solution after immersion for 15 days; d pH value variation as a function of the immersion time

Fig. 5 Electrochemical analysis of the Mg-Sn-In-Ga alloys: a PD curves after 3600 s open circuit potential measurement; b current density fitted from the polarization curves; c Nyquist plots and corresponding equivalent circuits; d fitted corrosion film and charge transfer resistances for the EIS measurements

Table 2 Equivalent circuit parameters used to fit the EIS spectra

Alloys	R_S (Ω cm²)	Q_f (μF cm⁻² sⁿ⁻¹)	n₁	R_f (Ω cm²)	Q_ct (μF cm⁻² sⁿ⁻¹)	n₂	R_ct (Ω cm²)	L (H cm⁻²)	χ² (× 10⁻³)
Mg-1Sn-1In-1Ga	64.07	8.60	0.923	2094	627.1	0.712	1776	-	0.87
Mg-5Sn-1In-2Ga	65.53	9.15	0.927	1557	940.4	0.269	1302	39,050	0.28

Fig. 6 Corrosion morphologies and corrosion products of Mg-Sn-In-Ga alloys after immersion in Hank’s solution for 6 h: a corrosion morphology of the Mg-1Sn-1In-1Ga alloy; b EDS results at point A; c corrosion morphology of the Mg-5Sn-1In-2Ga alloy; d EDS results at point B; e elemental mapping of a locally magnified area of the Mg-5Sn-1In-2Ga alloy

Fig. 7 Corrosion surface morphologies of the Mg-Sn-In-Ga alloys after immersion in Hank’s solution for 3 and 10 days: a, b 3 days; c, d 10 days; a, c Mg-1Sn-1In-1Ga alloy; b, d Mg-5Sn-1In-2Ga alloy. The inset in each image is a magnification of the area marked by the white square

Fig. 8 Corrosion surface morphologies without corrosion products and 3D corrosion depth of the Mg-Sn-In-Ga alloys after immersion in Hank’s solution for 15 days: a corrosion morphology of the Mg-1Sn-1In-1Ga alloy; b, c local magnifications of areas I and II in a; d corrosion morphology of the Mg-5Sn-1In-2Ga alloy; e, f local magnifications of areas of I and II in d; g-i 3D corrosion depth of areas I, III and IV

Fig. 9 Cross section of the corrosion morphologies and corresponding elemental mapping of the Mg-5Sn-1In-2Ga alloy after immersion in Hank’s solution for 3 days: a corrosion morphology; b Mg element; c O element; d Sn element; e Ga element; f In element

Fig. 10 Criterion line for deposition of corrosion products

Fig. 11 Tensile mechanical properties of the Mg-5Sn-1In-2Ga and Mg-1Sn-1In-1Ga, and AZ31 alloys: a engineering stress-strain curves; b UTS, YS, and EL

Fig. 12 Viability of rat macrophage cells after incubation for 3 days: a-c dead cell staining images; d-f live cell staining images; a, d Mg-5Sn-1In-2Ga alloy; b, e Mg-1Sn-1In-1Ga alloy; c, f negative control group

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