Corrosion behavior and mechanical degradation of as-extruded Mg-Gd-Zn-Zr alloys for orthopedic application

The microstructures, corrosion behavior, and mechanical degradation of the as-extruded Mg-6.0Gd-0.5Zn-0.4Zr (wt %, GZ60K) and Mg-6.0Gd-1.0Zn-0.4Zr (wt %, GZ61K) alloys were investigated. In both alloys, stacking faults and precipitates are formed in the recrystallized microstructures. The corrosion rate of GZ61K calculated by the hydrogen evolution in simulated body fluid is 0.34 +/- 0.13 mm/year, which is lower than that of GZ60K (0.45 +/- 0.09 mm/year); and the current density of GZ61K (5.23 +/- 1.41 mu A cm(-2)) is much lower than that of GZ60K (11.95 +/- 3.37 mu A cm(-2)). The corrosion results indicate GZ61K is more resistant to corrosion than GZ60K, but GZ60K presents more uniform corrosion mode as compared to GZ61K. After immersion in simulated body fluid for 7, 14, and 21 days, a slight decrease in the strength of both alloys is observed. The yield strength half-life is assessed for mechanical degradation and determined to be 125 and 85 days for GZ60K and GZ61K, respectively. The as-extruded GZ60K alloy with more uniform corrosion and longer mechanical integrity shows promising potential for orthopedic application.