Effect of Mn content on the corrosion behavior and biocompatibility of biodegradable Zn-Mn alloys

Zinc-based alloys have attracted increasing attention as biodegradable metals by virtue of their excellent mechanical, degradable and biocompatible properties. By introducing different levels of manganese (0.1, 0.3, 0.5 and 0.8 wt%), the properties of pure zinc were improved. The obtained zinc-manganese alloys consisted mainly of a zinc matrix and a MnZn13 phase, which led to a significant improvement of the mechanical properties with ultimate tensile strength (UTS), yield strength (YS) and elongation up to 117.3 MPa, 110.4 MPa, and 14%, respectively, and a Vickers hardness of 78 HV. After immersion in simulated body fluid (SBF), the addition of manganese slightly slowed down the corrosion rate of pure zinc, with an average corrosion rate of approximately 0.12 mm/y. Subsequent electrochemical tests and scanning Kelvin probe tests further confirmed this observation. In addition, the zinc-manganese alloys showed better resistance to E. coli and Staphylococcus aureus than pure zinc according to antimicrobial and in vitro cytotoxicity tests. Cell viability in the alloy extraction solution was higher than that of pure zinc and remained within acceptable limits (> 75%). In summary, Zn-Mn alloy has excellent performance, the promoting effect of Mn element on osteogenesis, and the excellent mechanical properties of the alloy itself, making it a potential biodegradable material for orthopedics.