Mechanical Properties and Wear Resistance of Biodegradable ZnMgY Alloy

Abstract

Biodegradable metallic materials are gaining attention for medical applications in short-term implants (15–500 days) because of their good mechanical properties, biocompatibility, and generalized corrosion. Most medical applications involve implant wear processes, particularly for bone fractures. Parallelepipedic specimens (dimensions 50 mm × 10 mm × 3 mm) were obtained by cutting the hot-rolled material processed from cast ingots of ZnMgY. To test the tribological performance of these stationary specimens, they were placed at the upper point of the machine’s tribological contact. The rotating lower disk of the AMSLER machine (AMSLER & Co., Schaffhouse, Switzerland) is manufactured from AISI 52100 bearing steel with a 62–65 HRC hardness and a diameter of 59 mm both radially and axially. Frictional torque is the parameter that is measured. Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) and Energy Dispersive Spectroscopy (EDS) were used to analyze the worn areas. The material behavior in the normal and wear states upon immersion in simulated body fluid (SBF) was evaluated.