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. 2011 Jun 21;4(6):1144-1167.
doi: 10.3390/ma4061144.

In Vivo Corrosion of Two Novel Magnesium Alloys ZEK100 and AX30 and Their Mechanical Suitability as Biodegradable Implants

Tim Andreas Huehnerschulte  1 , Nina Angrisani  2 , Dina Rittershaus  3 , Dirk Bormann  4 , Henning Windhagen  5 , Andrea Meyer-Lindenberg  6
Affiliations

In Vivo Corrosion of Two Novel Magnesium Alloys ZEK100 and AX30 and Their Mechanical Suitability as Biodegradable Implants

Tim Andreas Huehnerschulte et al. Materials (Basel). .

Abstract

In magnesium alloys, the components used modify the alloy properties. For magnesium implants in contact with bone, rare earths alloys are commonly examined. These were shown to have a higher corrosion resistance than other alloys and a high mechanical strength, but their exact composition is hard to predict. Therefore a reduction of their content could be favorable. The alloys ZEK100 and AX30 have a reduced content or contain no rare earths at all. The aim of the study was to investigate their in vivo degradation and to assess the suitability of the in vivo µCT for the examination of their corrosion. Implants were inserted in rabbit tibiae. Clinical examinations, X-rays and in vivo µCT scans were done regularly. Afterwards implants were analyzed with REM, electron dispersive X-ray (EDX), weighing and mechanical testing. The in vivo µCT is of great advantage, because it allows a quantification of the corrosion rate and qualitative 3D assessment of the corrosion morphology. The location of the implant has a remarkable effect on the corrosion rate. Due to its mechanical characteristics and its corrosion behavior, ZEK100 was judged to be suitable, while AX30, which displays favorable degradation behavior, has too little mechanical strength for applications in weight bearing bones.

Keywords: animal model; biodegradation; magnesium alloy; mechanical stability; µ computed tomography.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Loss of volume of the implants during implantation measured by the in vivo µCT.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Changes of the apparent density of the implants during implantation measured by the in vivo µCT.
Figure 3
Figure 3
Color mapping of the direct 3D thickness from µCT scans of an exemplary ZEK100 6 months implant. Numbers indicate the respective weeks after implantation.
Figure 4
Figure 4
Measurements of the direct 3D thickness of the implants during the implantation measured by the µCT.
Figure 5
Figure 5
Scanning electron microscopy images of implants after explantation.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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