Microstructures and Mechanical Properties of Hot-Rolled Mg–Zr–Ca Alloys for Biomedical Applications

This paper investigated the microstructures and mechanical properties of hot-rolled Mg–Zr–Ca alloys for potential use in biomedical applications. Mg–Zr–Ca alloys were fabricated by commercial pure Mg (99.9 mass%), Ca (99.9 mass%), and master Mg-33 mass% Zr alloy. The microstructures of the alloys were examined by X-ray diffraction analysis and optical microscopy, and the mechanical properties were determined from tensile tests. The experimental results indicate that the hot-rolled Mg–Zr–Ca alloys with 1% Ca are composed of one single phase, while those alloys with 2% Ca consist of both Mg₂Ca and phase. The Mg–Zr–Ca alloys exhibit typical elongated microstructures with obvious fibrous stripe, and the hot-rolling process increases the strength of Mg–Zr–Ca alloys by 2∼3 times as compared with that of as-cast alloys. The hot-rolled Mg–1Zr–1Ca alloy (mass%) exhibits the highest strength and best ductility among all the hot-rolled alloys, and has much higher strength than the human bone, suggesting that it has a great potential to be a good candidate for biomedical application.