Bio-inspired low elastic biodegradable Mg-Zn-Mn-Si-HA alloy fabricated by spark plasma sintering

In this paper, biodegradable low elastic Mg-Zn-Mn-Si-HA alloys have been synthesized by element-alloying assisted spark plasma sintering (SPS) process. The main concern of the current investigation is to study the influence of the key SPS-process variables, such as, alloying element, milling/alloying time, sintering temperature, and pressure on the porosity and elastic modulus of the fabricated alloys. Following an L-27 OA-based on Taguchi method and accompanying the input parameters, a series of SPS experiments were carried out. Results indicated that sintering temperature and pressure were found to have a significant effect. The SEM observations showed that highest degree of porosity was observed at the lowest level of the parameters and the full dense compact was obtained at the highest level of the parameters. The alloying of HA and Si refined the grain structure and improved the brittleness of the composite. The SPS fabricated alloys exhibited an elastic modulus in the range between 16 and 38 GPa, that is proximate to bone and viably avoid stress-shielding. Moreover, various biocompatible phases, that is, CaMg, Mg-Si, Mn-CaO, Ca-Mn-O, and CaMgSi were observed in the alloy, which are expected to enhance its bioactivity and corrosion resistance. As-synthesized alloy would be considered potential biodegradable material for orthopedic applications.