Zinc-based alloys represent one of the most highly developed areas regarding biodegradable materials. Despite this, some general deficiencies such as cytotoxicity and poor mechanical properties (especially elongation), are not properly solved. In this work, a Zn-5Mg (5 wt.% Mg) composite material with tailored mechanical and superior corrosion properties is prepared by powder metallurgy techniques. Pure Zn and Mg are mixed and subsequently compacted by extrusion at 200 °C and an extrusion ratio of 10. The final product possesses appropriate mechanical properties (tensile yield strength = 148 MPa, ultimate tensile strength = 183 MPa, and elongation = 16%) and decreased by four times the release of Zn in the initial stage of degradation compared to pure Zn, which can highly decrease cytotoxicity effects and therefore positively affect the initial stage of the healing process.

Department of Functional Materials Institute of Physics of the Czech Academy of Sciences Na Slovance 1999 2 182 21 Prague 8 Czech Republic

Department of Metals and Corrosion Engineering Faculty of Chemical Technology University of Chemistry and Technology Prague Technická 5 Dejvice 166 28 Prague 6 Czech Republic

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Advanced Zinc-Magnesium Alloys Prepared by Mechanical Alloying and Spark Plasma Sintering

Advanced Powder Metallurgy Technologies