Mechanical and corrosion properties of newly developed Mg–Mn–Ca alloys as potential biodegradable implant materials

Calcium and manganese were selected as alloying elements to develop Mg–2Mn–xCa (x = 0·8, 1·0, 1·2 wt-%) alloys as potential biodegradable implant materials. The mechanical properties and corrosion mechanism of both as cast and solution naturally age (T4) treated Mg–2Mn–xCa alloys were investigated. The results indicated that the distribution of the second phase dominated the corrosion process. T4 treatment could transfer coarse Mg₂Ca and α-Mn phases into dispersed fine precipitated phases, which improve mechanical and corrosion properties. Mg–2Mn–1·0Ca alloy has the best integrated performance among the developed alloys. This research indicated that T4 treated Mg–2Mn–xCa alloys are a promising candidate used as biodegradable implant material.